Surfing the Tide of Chaos
Photo credit: www.outriggers.com
Last week, during the school break, we went to the North Shore in Oahu, Hawaii. The most memorable moments were the morning walks through tropical forests along the shore. I’d pause from time to time on the beach to admire the waves. The North Shore is renowned for surfing, and during high tide, the ocean is especially awe-inspiring to watch. It feels like a giant living being, pulsating with infinite reserve of high-octane energy, and delivering never-ending streams of powerful breaks onto shore. To onlookers, this scene can be intimidating. To surfers, it represents endless opportunities.
After returning from this brief escape, we were thrust back into ordinary reality, dominated by a relentless stream of dramatic news. Conversations with friends and family often revolve around these topics, amplifying a collective emotional state filled with fear and dismay.
How do we maintain inner peace amidst outer chaos?
As I reflect on this, the image of surfing keeps flashing back to me. The true mastery of surfing lies in surrendering to the ocean’s force while maintaining balance and direction. It is a perfect metaphor for self-sovereignty: upholding the autonomy and integrity of ourselves when being surrounded by external forces outside of our control.
One of the key lessons I’ve learned over the years is the importance of self-sovereignty in realizing ones true potential. On a spiritual level, it involves having a strong inner compass—a deep connection to our true self and soul’s purpose—while not allowing external influences to define or distort who we are. (This is a vast and nuanced exploration on its own. I’ll be sharing more on this in future reflections.)
On an emotional level, it means consciously creating a healthy energetic boundary between the inner and outer worlds so that, regardless of how turbulent the outside world becomes, our inner space remains a sanctuary of peace and love.
The foundation of emotional sovereignty is the realization that we are fully in control of—and solely responsible for—our own emotions. Often our emotions, especially the negative ones such as sadness, anger, or stress are triggered by external events. We unconsciously allow other people's words or behaviors to control our emotions, and habitually attribute our emotional responses (positive or negative) to others or external conditions, such as our boss, spouse, parents, children, job, government, etc.
The truth is, our emotional response to external events is a choice. Recognizing that our response is a conscious choice is the first step towards reclaiming our power. Each negative situation or personal conflict then becomes an opportunity to practice emotional regulation (This is a separate topic on its own. More on this will be shared in future writings). The ability to choose to stay in a high vibrational state in every situation effectively creates an energetic boundary that shields the inner sanctuary from external chaos.
If there is one silver lining to the unfolding turmoil, it is the prime opportunity for all of us to practice self-sovereignty—like a surfer riding the waves with autonomy, balance, and grace.