Agency

Lately, I’ve been experiencing more anxiety than usual, which is quite out of character for me. It’s frustrating because I can’t pinpoint exactly what’s triggering it. It feels like there’s a constant stream of stressors in both my personal life and on a global scale. For that matter, it could be just that pesky Mercury in retrograde!

Every morning, I find myself torn between the desire to stay in bed and the small bit of courage pushing me to face the day. Thankfully, I’ve made a habit of starting my day with a meditation practice from the Insight Meditation Center on YouTube, something I’ve been doing for the past four years. Luckily today’s Dharmatte topic was “agency” — the power to live with inner freedom. It reminded me that I have the ability to live according to my deepest values, even when things don’t go as planned or when uncertainty looms.

I find solace in the fact that, despite my anxiety, I still have the freedom to choose my path. Even on the toughest days, I manage to get out of bed and tackle my to-do list. It’s essential for me to approach each day with a sense of peace, goodwill, and respect for all beings.