Ancient Wisdom for Modern Challenges: 3 Practices for Uncertain Times
This buddha statue is located in the Marble Mountains near Da Nang, Vietnam. The Marble Mountains are a cluster of five limestone and marble hills that have caves, tunnels, temples, and shrines within them. The mountains are named after the five elements: metal, water, wood, fire, and earth.
In the quiet moments of my morning practice, as snow flurries dance outside my window, I'm reminded again of the power of presence.
The rooftops I see will change with seasons, just as our world continuously transforms. This moment—right here, right now—contains everything.
The Gift of Ancient Practices
The practices that sustain me daily weren't born in my lifetime or even my culture. They've traveled across continents and centuries, passed from teacher to student, evolving yet preserving their essence. This continuity fills me with wonder.
When I move through flowing qigong sequences or settle into meditation, I'm participating in a living tradition that connects countless practitioners across time. Though I've never physically traveled to the lands where these practices originated, their wisdom has profoundly shaped my life.
Each morning when I take my seat—whether on cushion or chair—I'm building a foundation for presence that carries me through the day's uncertainties. If morning escapes me, I find my way back to practice in the evening. This rhythm creates the container that holds everything else.
"She who knows she has enough is rich." — From ancient wisdom teachings
The Practice of Coming Back
My practice isn't perfect. Far from it. Here's what actually happens:
I sit. I notice my breath. I feel grateful. Then suddenly, I'm worrying about the news I heard yesterday—about social divisions, environmental challenges, economic uncertainty. My mind spins with questions about what might happen next.
Then I notice: I'm no longer present. So I come back—to my breath, to sensation, to this moment.
I feel joy in simply being alive. I watch this feeling arise, linger, and dissolve. I feel broken by the suffering in our world. I watch this feeling arise, linger, and dissolve. I feel grateful for my home. I watch this feeling arise, linger, and dissolve.
And on it goes—this beautiful, messy practice of returning again and again to what is.
Bridging Inner Practice and Outer Engagement
When I hear about suffering—whether across the world or across the street—my heart responds. Sometimes with compassion, sometimes with fear, sometimes with a sense of helplessness.
"What can I do?" becomes both my question and my practice.
I hear about the stock market in the news and worry about financial security—mine and others'. I read about policy changes affecting vulnerable communities and feel deep concern. Then I notice my feet on the floor, my breath in my body, the present moment as it is. Just like this.
This isn't spiritual bypassing. It's the opposite. By grounding in presence, I can respond from clarity rather than reactivity. By acknowledging what is, I find the courage to imagine what could be.
The Power of Questions
Perhaps the most transformative aspect of mindfulness isn't finding answers but living the questions:
How can ancient wisdom guide us through modern challenges?
What does compassionate action look like in times of division?
How might our collective practices create ripples of positive change?
I've found that inquiry itself is a powerful practice. Our minds naturally crave solutions, yet definitive answers often elude us, especially during turbulent times. Questions, however, invite creativity and deeper contemplation.
Practices for Uncertain Times
Here are three practices that have sustained me—perhaps they'll support you too:
1. Mindful Noticing
When you feel overwhelmed by news or worry, pause to notice:
Three things you can see
Two things you can hear
One sensation in your body
This simple practice anchors you in the present, creating space between stimulus and response.
2. Compassionate Visualization
Settle comfortably and deepen your breath. Visualize a world where decision-makers at every level engage in mindful, compassionate practices. Imagine:
Greater emotional intelligence in leadership
Decisions that consider long-term well-being
Cooperation replacing conflict
Policies prioritizing health, education, and environmental sustainability, women's rights, etc. etc.
Ask yourself: How can I embody this vision in my own sphere of influence today?
3. Metta Practice for Clarity
In moments of confusion or overwhelm, silently repeat:
"May I see clearly beyond distractions, guided by timeless wisdom, compassion, and truth."
Allow this practice to clarify where to focus your energy amidst external chaos.
Finding Freedom Where We Are
True freedom might not depend on external circumstances being perfect (they rarely are). Instead, it may emerge from our capacity to see clearly, to stay present with what is, and to respond with wisdom rather than reaction.
As I continue teaching yoga to those experiencing anxiety and depression, guiding qigong movements online, or sharing these words with you, I'm practicing this freedom. It's imperfect, ongoing work—just like the snow that falls, melts, and will fall again.
I invite you to join me in this practice: What question is alive in you today? How might your practice help you hold that question with both courage and gentleness?
Remember, we don't need to fix everything at once. We simply need to keep coming back—to presence, to compassion, to this moment as it is.
What questions are arising for you in these times? How do your practices help you navigate uncertainty? I'd love to hear your reflections in the comments below.
