Unsettled

Today’s View From on the Shore

What does it mean to be unsettled?

What is the definition of unsettled?  There are quite a few, but here are some according to Miriam Webster:

“not settled; not fixed or stable; without established order; unorganized; disorganized”

“continuously moving or changing; not situated in one place: an unsettled life.”

“wavering or uncertain, as in opinions or behavior; unstable; erratic: an unsettled state of mind.”

“undetermined, as a point at issue; undecided; doubtful”

What makes us unsettled? Uncertainly about jobs, concern about our kids, money, wondering what will happen in our future, and even what happened in our past. 
The thing is that we can’t change the past, and we certainly can’t predict the future so it’s all about the present.  

It is an interesting dilemma.  

What makes me feel unsettled?

Change.  Change makes me feel unsettled.  This is tough. Steady ground is hard to find in the world right now. Things shift and move around us constantly and nothing is secure. The not-knowing is unsettling especially for someone who likes to know what is coming next, likes to be prepared, likes to be able to handle what is coming.  And notwithstanding reading books, listening to podcasts, and attending yoga workshops that teach living in the “here and now” sometimes what happens next is all I can think about. Yet, I’m reminded of the need to stay present with this great quote. 

“The ability to be in the present moment is a major component of mental wellness.”  -Abraham Maslow 

So, I post this in the here and now, and for this moment I am not looking forward, I am not looking back.  I sit with the not knowing, with the uncertainty, and I aim to be settled, at least for a moment.

Are you settled? Unsettled?