Resilience and the Mountain meditation: Staying grounded through life’s changes

Plans do not always go as expected, especially during the summer. A delayed train, a restless night, a taxi that does not show up, or a sudden change of plans can throw the whole day off. Flights get cancelled, schedules are interrupted, and suddenly we are navigating the unexpected.

Resilience is often described as something massive: bouncing back from life's biggest challenges. But it also shows up in these everyday moments. It is not about avoiding change, but about meeting it with steadiness and flexibility.

Like a mountain standing tall through changing weather, we can discover anchors that help us feel grounded, even when life does not go as planned.

A personal story: Resilience on the move ✈️

Travel can be exciting, but it also brings uncertainty. I have had my fair share of sleepless nights on planes, missed connections, tight schedules, and even strikes at airports. One memory stands out from a Eurotrip I took with my mum. There was a strike at the airport in Rome, and because of it, we could not fly there to catch our connection to Venice. For a while we were not sure how we would make it from Vienna to Venice.

At first there was worry. How would we get there? What if we missed the next leg of our trip? What carried us through was being together. We supported each other, stayed open to possibilities, and eventually found a small flight directly to Venice. We arrived later than planned, but just in time to enjoy food and live music in the piazza. It is a memory I treasure deeply, one that still lives in my heart even now that she is no longer here.

Moments like these remind me that resilience does not mean controlling every single detail. It means finding our inner resources and leaning on support, so we can adapt and still make space for joy. And just like any other skill, resilience is something we can practise in everyday life, with the small disruptions, delays, or changes of plan, so that over time we build the muscle we may need for life's bigger challenges.

Practice: The mountain meditation 🗻

One way to explore resilience is through a mountain meditation, picturing a mountain as strong, stable, and grounded. Weather is coming and going: sunshine, storms, snow, or rain. But the mountain remains steady at its core.

Resilience is like this. We cannot stop life's changes, but we can connect to a sense of steadiness within ourselves, like a mountain standing tall through shifting seasons.

Let us begin with a few gentle adjustments to settle into this practice:

• Posture: Sitting in a way that feels steady and comfortable for you. Feet resting on the ground, or choosing any posture that supports your body.

• Eyes: You may gently close your eyes, lower your gaze, or keep them open, whichever feels safest and most supportive.

• Breath: Taking a few slow, intentional breaths. Noticing the rise and fall of your body.

The invitation now is to bring to mind the image of a mountain. It may be one you have seen, a photo or wallpaper on your phone, or one you are imagining in your mind's eye.

Noticing its qualities: strong, stable, grounded. The mountain stands through sun and rain, through storms and calm skies. Weather is coming and going, but the mountain remains steady at its core.

When you feel ready, you might silently repeat to yourself:

"Like the mountain, I am meeting change with stability and presence."

Staying with this image for a few breaths, then gently bringing your attention back to your surroundings: noticing the room, sounds, or the feeling of your feet on the ground.

Reflection ✍️

If it feels helpful, you might take a few minutes to write, draw, or simply reflect on one of these questions:

• What changes feel most challenging for me right now?

• What anchors me when life feels uncertain or unstable?

• How can I practise resilience in small ways today, so I strengthen it for bigger challenges?

There is no right or wrong way to approach this. You can respond in writing, think about them on a walk, or simply let the questions rest quietly in the back of your mind.

Your anchors may be people, practices, places, or simply the knowledge that you have navigated uncertainty before.

Before we go

Resilience is not only for big life events. It is for everyday living. Even a short mountain meditation, or a pause with the breath, can help us flow more calmly with change.

I invite you to notice your own anchors: the practices, supports, or people that help you stay steady.

If you would like to continue exploring reflections and practices like this, you are welcome to subscribe to my Substack, A Kindfulness Journey, where I share gentle guidance periodically.

Mantra for the month: 

"Strong as a mountain, flexible as the seasons."