Sacred Disruption
Many of us live in the quiet belief that if
we’re vigilant enough, we can outsmart
life’s unwelcome surprises. But no amount
of foresight can protect us from every
unexpected turn. The deeper question is this:
how can life’s disruptions become invitations
to build resilience, to surrender control,
and to dance with uncertainty
as part of life’s natural rhythm.
Disruption is Everywhere
That’s a hard reality to accept because we like to create the illusion of safety. We cling to the idea that bad things happen to others. Yet, most of us live with an ambient anxiety that the other shoe is going to drop in our own lives at any moment.
The truth is that disruption comes in different forms and at various times. If we are lucky enough to live a long life, we will suffer many losses and unexpected challenges, and experiencing these can leave us feeling profoundly unsafe. This feeling is reinforced in a news cycle that provides endless proof that chaos and uncertainty are always looming.
World events often receive so much coverage of tragedy and disruption that it's easy to believe they are more widespread than ever before. There are floods, fires, hurricanes, wars, and catastrophes everywhere we look. In our personal lives, we lose a loved one, a job, or receive a diagnosis that doesn’t promise a happy ending.
Most of us cope with uncertainty through distraction. We prefer not to think about what might happen, which is mostly good. Obsessively thinking about worst-case scenarios harms our health and creates other issues that compromise our ability to enjoy life.
Herein lies the challenge. Since we don’t want to ignore disruption nor focus on its possibility of bringing harm, the question becomes: how can we create a sense of safety and confidence in a world (and a life) designed for uncertainty and impermanence?
Embracing Uncertainty
Everything is in a constant state of change. We know this from observing the natural world of which we are a part. We are an ever-evolving species in an ever-evolving environment. Death is necessary for life, and decay is essential for growth. This is the natural order of things, and we are a part of its process.
While we might install house alarms on our property or drive cars with airbags and high safety ratings, we are still part of a changing and unpredictable environment. Our first line of defense around this reality is often to ignore our vulnerability or to create a false sense of being untouchable. We are constantly tempted to pad our lives with as much comfort and security as possible, hoping it is enough to ward off tragedy and loss.
Over generations, this privilege to create an insulated life has also insulated us from our ability to be resilient when times get tough. The majority of the world still lives close to the bone. Poverty and lack of resources mean that most of the world’s population experiences death and tragedy as an expected part of living and, therefore, have a built-in ability to weather these losses and carry on as survival demands.
When we are part of a wealthy and developing population that increasingly insulates our lives, the separation from resilience takes its toll on our confidence. In the book When Things Fall Apart by the Buddhist Nun Pema Chodron, she emphasizes that change is inevitable and that resisting it only causes suffering. When we choose to ignore uncertainty rather than embrace it, we harm our mental health and suffer from the consequences of denial and fear.
The counterbalance to denial is presence in the moment. This practice of mental fortitude asks us to stay present rather than check out. Thinking in the present is different than distraction in that it sharpens our ability to stay in the moment of our experience. Presence helps us tap into gratitude for what is instead of longing for what might be. Staying in the present allows us to think less about what might go wrong in the future.
Staying present is not meant to be confused with denial but rather an exercise in mental strengthening that develops our ability to get comfortable with discomfort. Chodron explains that comfort with discomfort is rooted in the Buddhist concept of groundlessness, which is the idea that there is no solid or predictable foundation in life. Rather than fostering fear with this idea, it invites us to see an opportunity for growth within our ability to find security in ourselves. By recognizing that life has no solid ground, we can learn to stay present and open, anticipating a shifting and ever-changing lived experience.
The Role of Fear and Pain
Much of our fear of uncertainty lies in the belief that we can avoid disruption in our lives. We can avoid unpleasant and unwanted situations if we are busy, wealthy, or important enough. When disruption brings changes, shame or victimhood often presents itself, as though what has happened could have been avoided if we had prepared better… as if we had a crystal ball to look into the future.
In these moments and seasons of uncertainty and disruption, it’s easy to believe we have done something wrong to deserve such an outcome. We falsely think that we have the power to avoid unwanted circumstances coming to pass rather than anticipating them as part of living.
When met with mindfulness and awareness of our vulnerability, fear can be a teacher that reveals our attachments and insecurities. In other words, what are we clinging to that gives us a false sense of security rather than a practice of resilience?
During seasons of acute pain and suffering, mindfulness and resilience become pathways to deeper self-awareness and compassion. Through compassion, we see ourselves not as victims of circumstance but as humans having very human experiences. Rather than running away, we are called forward to sit with our fear and pain. Accepting our difficult circumstances builds wisdom, fortitude, and confidence in our ability to withstand adversity and grow stronger because of it.
Moreover, these moments of pain and fear often invite us to re-examine what truly matters. The discomfort forces us to prioritize, shedding what no longer serves us and strengthening our connection to what is essential—relationships, purpose, and inner peace.
This recalibration can transform our fear from something paralyzing into a catalyst for clarity and renewal. By allowing hardship to refine our values and deepen our sense of purpose, we emerge with a more grounded understanding of ourselves and the path we are walking.
By embracing fear and pain as integral to personal growth, we understand that disruption is not a detour but a necessary part of the journey. It strips away illusions of control and invites us into a deeper relationship with trust—trust in ourselves, in life’s unfolding, and in our ability to navigate uncertainty.
Rather than resisting the discomfort, we learn to lean into it, allowing it to refine and strengthen us. In this way, disruption becomes an initiation into a more authentic, resilient way of being—one where we are no longer paralyzed by the unknown but empowered by our ability to adapt and grow through it.
Cultivating Compassion
Disruption asks that we loosen our grip and flow with life's inevitable change. Genuine compassion starts within. Recognizing our struggles and extending kindness to ourselves, we cultivate a deeper understanding of others’ pain. Acknowledging our imperfections allows us to meet ourselves and others with empathy rather than judgment, creating space for genuine connection.
At the heart of this idea is a practice called Maitri, or loving-kindness—a commitment to treating ourselves with unconditional friendliness. We develop resilience and a sense of well-being by embracing our experiences with warmth rather than criticism. When this compassion is directed toward ourselves, it becomes the foundation for engaging with the world, shaping our interactions with others through the lens of care and acceptance.
When we lead with compassion, we disrupt cycles of fear and aggression. Instead of reacting defensively, we open ourselves to connection and understanding. This shift transforms our relationships and contributes to a more harmonious and compassionate society where kindness and empathy guide our way of living.
True compassion also invites us to embrace discomfort as an opportunity for growth. By leaning into our pain rather than resisting it, we uncover hidden strengths and insights. This willingness to face what feels difficult opens our hearts, softening the barriers we build out of fear. As we become more accepting of our own struggles, we develop the courage to hold space for others in their suffering, fostering deeper trust and meaningful connection.
When we transmute our fear and pain from obstacles into teachers, we are guided toward greater resilience. When we meet suffering, mindfulness fosters self-awareness and deepens compassion. The heart of this practice begins with ourselves. When we cultivate self-compassion, we break free from cycles of fear and aggression, opening the door to a more connected and compassionate way of living.
