In recent weeks, the world has borne witness to the heart-wrenching events unfolding in Palestine. The distressing images and harrowing narratives emanating from Gaza have not just been news clips; they have permeated our consciousness, evoking powerful reactions and stirring profound emotions within us all. The collective psyche has been shaken, as we grapple with the weight of the suffering and anguish laid bare before our eyes.
Most of us are feeling confused and disoriented as we are experiencing all the symptoms of collective grief. Emotionally, we feel the whole spectrum of emotions from being numb to raging anger and everything in between. Physically we feel tired, nauseous, struggling with aches and pains, as we find ourselves sleeping too much or unable to sleep at all. At work or in school, we are unable to focus, we feel detached, foggy, preoccupied with the images and videos of the bombings and mass graves in Gaza. Yet, even when the feelings are so heightened, there are those amongst us who are dismissing and denying their grief as they force themselves to ‘go on’ with business as usual. They tell themselves, “I have no right to grieve…I didn’t know them” or “But I am not Palestinian” or “life has to go on” as the shove aside images of Palestinian mothers holding their dead children into some corner of their mind--not realising that this grief, this pain that we all are feeling is real and what is happening to the Palestinians is not happening to someone far away, but to all of us where ever we are.
So, how do we anchor ourselves through such difficult times of collective grief?
We find ourselves in challenging times, bearing the weight of the events in a way previous generations didn't. While we cannot shield ourselves from the pain of the world, we possess the tools and inner strength to process, understand, and navigate these complex emotions. Through mindful engagement, communal processing, and personal grounding, we can weather this storm, emerging with deeper empathy and resilience.
https://mojeh.com/culture/uae-businesses-donating-gaza-palestine/
