Riding the Wave of Uncertainty: Taking Inspiration from Surfing when Managing a Crisis.

By Dr Sonja Skocic

Have you ever seen a dumper wave rolling in and found yourself at the base of it with no understanding of the wave, the ocean floor, and no board or skills to tackle it? You get dumped, swallow salty ocean water, lose your bathing suit and end up waddling back to shore with seaweed in your hair, scratches on your legs and wondering what the hell just happened? 

Metaphorically, THAT is what is happening right now. We have been Hit with a dumper wave and are scrambling to evolve our surfing ability FAST. I’m taking inspiration today from surfing legends who understand the challenge of ‘riding the wave.’

"I don't need easy, I just need possible" - Bethany Hamilton

"I’m just a surfer who wanted to build something that would allow me to surf longer" - Jack O’Neill (We like to think he invented the wetsuit, designed so he could surf more comfortably during winter months)

"I took off on a wave, went down the side, popped out the other end, and went, shit, I’m still alive!” - Greg Noll

‘Riding the wave' and ‘urge surfing’ are terms therapists use to describe the experience of tolerating an uncomfortable emotion as graciously and safely as possible. Used in conjunction with mindfulness, we are encouraged to become aware of the change, accept what’s happening, and use the right approach to tolerate the emotion until it passes.

As we practice mindfulness, we witness the nature of impermanence, we notice many changes in the way our body feels, the way our community responds. We notice ideas and reactions come and go, we practice letting go, we practice not holding on so tightly but instead riding the wave as smoothly as we can. 

The mechanics of what your body needs to do to surf is pretty straightforward. However, the mechanics of the particular wave you are riding need to be understood, and that is where the complexity and skill of surfing is tested. It can take a long time to understand how particular waves work, their pattern, their force, where they start and end. The same goes for riding the wave of different emotions and challenges during this time.

 Wisdom from the surfing community can help us here: 

• There are different boards for different conditions, so know your waves and choose accordingly. Whether your wave relates to your physical or mental health, your relationships, your finances, your business or otherwise, there are several different external resources available to you. You can access online support, Government assistance, loan relief etc. Contact your GP or other healthcare providers to see what they can offer you right now, do the same with banks and ask your accountant for advice. There are also many approaches to mindfulness that will help you develop internal resilience to what’s going on, so you can surf through the next few months. Different approaches to practicing mindfulness include breathing meditation, sensory mindfulness or mindful movement. There are also many different apps available to guide your mindfulness practice, but not all apps are made equal so take the time to try out different apps and find what’s right for you. 

• Positioning on the wave will set you up for success, as will your position on your surfboard. Being mindful of your positioning means you can adjust if required. Some of us saw this coming and positioned ourselves as best we could to ride the wave, others have had to adjust quickly and have had a clumsy start at responding. All of us are needing to adjust in response to daily challenges. This is another area that mindfulness can assist as it helps bring attention to the present moment, which means we become more aware and attuned to what is actually going on and how we are coping.

• Visualise riding the wave. Visualise and plan for the next 6-12 months; what boards you will need? Where are you positioned on the wave? Visualise getting out the other side with new experiences, skills and resilience.

• You will move in the direction that you are looking. Instead of focusing on what’s out of our hands, consider what are you able to influence. I have seen so many wonderful approaches people have been taking that are expressions of their true values. I have seen people making sacrifices as Healthcare workers, I have seen people promoting small businesses, I have seen people reduce the amount they consume and waste and I have seen people focused on comedy and making others laugh. All of this has the ability to influence others to also focus on values-driven responses. 

• If caught in a rip, we are told to not give in to the temptation to swim against the current. We're taught to either swim along the shoreline until we are out of the rip or lie on our backs and float to conserve energy. The approach we are told to take feels counter-intuitive, it’s not what we naturally want to do. We naturally want to fight against the current. Just like we naturally want to rid ourselves of discomfort. But following physical distancing guidelines will keep everyone safe including you. Life is filled with ups and downs, our bodies effected by hormones, substances, sleep, illness, injury, our minds can be obsessive, worried, negative and overwhelmed. Practicing riding the wave won’t change our human nature, but it will change the way you relate to your thoughts, your emotional experiences and therefore your quality of life. 

Having a regular mindfulness meditation practice helps us to understand our waves and how to ride them best. It can also help us to better understand what’s happening in our world and how to have a more considered response to it. With regular practice, we pass through difficulties more easily and begin to experience ‘riding the wave’ of anxiety, and other uncomfortable aspects of being human. With practice, we become more comfortable letting go of old habits that no longer serve us. We learn not to cling to things that have a particular outcome and to accept them as they evolve naturally. We allow ourselves and others to grow and change their mind, we allow ourselves to progress.

Take good care.