There is a LOT happening right now that can be stressful, worrisome, or frightening for all of us, no matter what we choose to believe or look to. This is challenging and can wear down even the strongest at times.
This past week, I chatted with a client about exactly these concerns. She asked me if I am worried, or how I handle the challenges. I’m sharing some of what I told her, since it speaks to what all of us can do.
So for today, a little hope for how to keep going.
Anchoring
As with any of you, I am not immune to what is going on and how it impacts all of us. The biggest way I keep some sense of awareness and hope is by anchoring myself in gratitude.
Every day, I consciously express gratefulness for my home and the beauty and peace it offers. I am thankful for my relationship, and the humor we share. I find support and love with my family. And I am excited and grateful for the opportunity this work provides – helping folks remember their heart and clearing their path so they can move ahead more easily to finding healing and peace.
All of us live different experiences, and so my list will not match yours. One key thing for finding gratitude that supports is that it requires your conscious effort to find something to be grateful for every day.
Remember, little things add up, and they remind your heart that there is still light, still fun and joy, in the day. Consider what you have, what you experience that is more than just another thing. Dig a little and see the diamond under the dirt.
Remembering the Why
Another thought that keeps me sane and moving forward is that I know, no matter how small my light may feel on any given day (and some days, it can be very dim), as long as it shines, darkness has not won the day. And by shining my own light, I can continue to give hope and guidance to others, so they can do the same.
It can be easy right now to feel overwhelmed, hopeless, and scared. It’s important for you to be okay feeling that way – the challenges continue to come from angles and speeds that make it harder to process and respond to.
Exercising the Mind
A way to handle this is to view your gratitude work, your shining, and your responses as being like physical exercise. Each moment you have gratitude, each moment you hold a bit of light, love, and hope, you are stretching and strengthening your mental muscle.
But as with physical exercise, be sure to do your best to give it a break from the work. In other words, it’s okay to take time to simply not think about things.
Even then, the proverbial elephant may still hang around – so you can work to make it (for a moment) less ominous. Make it seem funny, put it in an alternate universe, or imagine yourself on an island away from all of it, etc.
Remember, how you think about the elephant, how you chose to focus when you take that break, will make a difference.
Keep shining. Keep hope and love in your heart. It matters for all of us, so thank you.
Love, and until next time.
