Quelling Your Stress During Stressful Times
Negativity and violence seem to be the loudest headlines these days getting all the attention. It’s hard to stay grounded with so much fear and anger energy coming at us all the time. And in this day and age of social media on top of media-media, it really is coming at us all the time. Even when we are vigilant about what we allow into our day to day, somehow, it’s there. Sometimes we can just feel it. Sometimes we hear about it through the grapevine. Sometimes we pay close attention to it. How can we as members of one human family not pay some attention? We care!
So I’m here with a little news-reframing love note for you today. A simple pop-in to say I feel your caring and I am caring along with you. I see your concerns and I am concerned along with you. I feel your days of exhaustion and therefore momentary indifference and then your rising up again into positive action. I am right there with you.
My hope is that you will take time EVERY day to remember no matter what is going on around you, YOU ARE A LIGHT BRINGER! You can be the change you wish to see in the world. You are PLENTY and you are PERFECTION and you make a difference!
The messages I got in my yoga practice this morning were these: Be quiet so you can hear the truth that there is so much wonder and magic in our world! Be mindful with your energy and focus! Remember that all is well and above all, even when you wonder why you would bother: YOU ARE A LIGHT BRINGER.
This is my calling. It’s my sacred contract. It’s my responsibility to seek out the good, the joy, the light. To live with as much good, joy and light as possible, and to share the good, the joy, the light.
I could withdraw and just try to live a happy life without taking any action to share with you, hoping that my happy, hopeful energy alone would have some radiant effect (and I’m absolutely certain that our energy does have a profound radiant effect), but I feel this deep intention to take action and remind you of your splendor!
So, if you have—or someone you care about has—been feeling a bit winded by world events lately, I want to offer you a few little tips to continue to live your bright life…
When all seems glum or overwhelming, seek first to understand.
Remain positive and hopeful; TRUST!
Trust that you are loved and supported.
Trust that good things are coming and good things are happening now.
When you’re stressed you’re usually future tripping, dwelling on the past, or looping in a mental eddy of wanting what's impermanent to be permanent, what's changing to stay the same. For a moment try taking a deep breath through your nose and, if only for the time it takes to breathe one breath, BE HERE NOW. Be sure to breathe through your nose and not your mouth, this is more centering for your nervous system.
Remember your amazingness. You are such brilliant design, capable of shifting your thoughts from negative ones to positive ones.
Trust that the world is healing. Even when we don’t see or grasp the healing, there is healing happening now. When we look for that, we either find it, or we create it, so look for the healing opportunity of every situation.
Accept. Acceptance always moves things along a magical path. Surrendering is a brave thing to do and in life it doesn't always equal defeat. Yoga teaches us to surrender into the experience we are having at the present moment and accept our capabilities, needs and limitations as they are here and now. We have a tendency to want to push past our edge or just try and will things to be different. When we instead choose to fully accept things, even things that seem unacceptable, simply because they are in existence as they are, we are given an opportunity to then examine them with more calm clarity. From that place, we can more easily create change (or even just witness it with no effort on our part at all!). If we are expending all our energy on just refusing to accept things as they are, we don't have any left to make the positive changes necessary to improve the situation. "That which we resist, persists!" On the other hand, when we move into a mindset of acceptance, we are often guided to solution.
Trust that we are all in good hands. When it comes time to choose leaders, choose from a place of heart-ness — that place where we are all connected and want what’s best for everyone. Or step into your own light of leadership and lead with your heart.
Nourish yourself. My little voice is very wise and usually quite amusing. Today she told me, “Whole foods are soul foods!” (she also said, “Tea time is me time” and I had a good giggle!) Instead of reaching for that bag of chips or tub of ice cream, see what happens when you care enough for yourself to feed your soul by way of your body with natural goodness. When we treat ourselves kindly through food and proper hydration, we view the whole world more positively so don’t skimp on this step! You’re so worth it and you’ll be able to shine your light more freely when you're nourished.
May this bring you a little peace!
NamastYAY!
Maggie
