With everything happening in the world right now, you may need to add more coping strategies. The goal is to stay mindfully in the present moment so that your mind doesn’t get stuck ruminating about negative situations. Even though things are quickly changing, you still have the choice of where you put your thoughts and energy.
If you are feeling overwhelmed, staying in the present moment is essential. Someone recently asked me what to do when your present moment sucks. You create a shift to a new present moment.
First, acknowledge your feelings. Then, take three deep breaths, inhaling peace, calm, and serenity — exhale and release all troubling thoughts. You can continue with this breathing exercise or do a simple activity like washing the dishes. Only focus on washing the dishes, nothing else. That becomes your new ‘present moment.’
The day after the U.S. election, I did the breathing exercise, which helped. However, I caught myself slipping into thinking about the future and everything he said he would do. I knew I didn’t want to go down that slippery slope, so instead, I swept and mopped my entire house. I felt calm and peaceful during the activity and have remained in that centered and grounded space.
Spend time in nature. I take my dog on a long walk whenever I feel off balance. I concentrate on taking deep breaths while I walk. I clear my mind and focus on what I am seeing, hearing, smelling. As I walk, I hold the space to receive any messages the Divine has for me.
Clear the negative energy. Light sage or use a shaker to clear yourself and your space of any negativity. Visualize releasing anything that is not for your highest good. Light candles, burn incense, play sacred music, and move your body. Breathe in calming, clearing energy, and exhale everything you want to release.
Acknowledge your feelings. If you skip this step and don’t allow yourself to process everything fully, those feelings can surface in unhealthy ways, like acting out with others, getting sick, or having mental and emotional struggles. Journaling or talking with someone is an excellent way to understand your feelings better so that you can release them. Welcome your tears. Crying is a powerful way to release what you no longer want.
Trust Spirit. When things look and feel dark, you can get stuck in despair. We are limited in our ability to see the future. Don’t make assumptions based on fear. It can be challenging to see beyond what is happening. Spirit knows things that you don’t.
Surround yourself with nurturing things that bring you peace and comfort. I amp up my regular spiritual practice — listening to more sacred music, lighting candles and incense more frequently, praying and meditating more often, and ensuring I always have some crystals for protection and healing on my body and near my bed. What I put inside my body is also essential. I make healthy choices in what I eat and drink, including some of my favorite comfort foods.
Take better care of your body during stressful times. LOVE your body and yourself. Exercise, dance, sing, eat healthy, take nutritional supplements that help with stress, get a massage, have a healing, meditate, and create a healthy sleep environment.
Pay attention to how you spend your time. Make healthy choices. Read a book, listen to an uplifting podcast, play your favorite music, and connect with people who make you feel nurtured, calm, and loved. Avoid unhealthy choices, especially anything that can negatively affect your mood. If you feel drained after spending time with certain people, limiting your time with them is okay.
Stop watching the news - Instead, fill yourself with positive, uplifting information. If that feels too difficult, at least limit your exposure to the news.
The power of affirmations — they work! Spend some time meditating about areas you need to work on. Write affirmations for yourself and commit to starting every day by reading them. During the day, when you feel unbalanced or stressed, reread them. You may also want to reread them when you go to bed.
Gratitude. Every day, preferably at bedtime, write a short gratitude list. It is essential to remind ourselves that even in the darkest times, good things are still happening in our lives. It could be something simple like “I am grateful for the hummingbirds that come drink from my feeder.” Or maybe you are grateful to your friend who shared their wisdom. Reminding yourself of the goodness in your life helps to keep you grounded and centered rather than feeling stuck in the darkness. Here is one of mine: “I am filled with gratitude that I get to share my wisdom, hope, inspiration, and healing with others.”
Bring more laughter into your life. Watch a comedy. Laugh with your friends. Find the lightness and cleansing that laughter brings.
Find joy. You may need to meditate and journal what truly brings you joy. Keep the list handy to bring more happiness to yourself and others.
Spend time with animals. Unconditional love is so important, and they know how to give it to you. If you don’t have a pet, consider getting one, or hang out with one of your friend's pets.
Identify your tribe. Having at least one person who completely “groks” you is so valuable. To be seen, heard, and understood is one of the best gifts you can give someone. Find your peeps, and create a space for a loving exchange of energy with each other.
Create a Spiritual Support Group — find people on a similar path and commit to regularly meeting with each other.. One of my healing clients in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, is organizing a group. She has requested that everyone who participates has at least read my book — even better if you have had a healing with me. If you are interested in her group, message me, and I will pass it on to her.
For those having difficulty finding your peeps in your area, consider organizing a ZOOM support group to broaden your outreach. If anyone wants to create a ZOOM group, I will forward any messages I receive from people who wish to participate.
Catch yourself and make healthy corrections. Watch what you say and tell yourself. For example, if you think, “I can’t get over these overwhelmed feelings.” Stop and say, “I am sorry. I didn’t mean to say that. Let me rephrase it.” You could replace it with “I love myself. I release and let go of any overwhelmed feelings I have.” If you have difficulty believing your affirmations, you can journal, or talk with someone to look more deeply at what is behind you holding on to unhealthy thoughts and behavoirs..
Try to find the commonality we all share. Instead of focusing on the differences, see what you have in common with those “on the other side.” It is not helpful to hold an “us against them” mindset.
Hearing, seeing, and acknowledging another person is a powerful gift. Imagine if you were trying to discuss global warming with a nonbeliever. What if first you asked them why they have certain beliefs about global warming? Then, instead of arguing, repeat what they said to show them you heard it correctly. Gaze into their eyes, sending loving-kindness to their heart. Please take a few deep breaths and share your global warming beliefs with them. If we can avoid the “I’m right, you are wrong” energy, it will enhance our communication with others.
The Buddhist Loving Kindness meditation blessing can help you with this practice. There are many versions of the Loving Kindness meditation. You can use one below or customize your own.
Sit with your eyes closed. Take some deep breaths. Clear your mind.
First, you begin with yourself:
“May I be happy.”
“May I be safe.”
“May I be healthy, peaceful, and strong.”
“May I give and receive appreciation today.”
Now repeat the blessing for all sentient beings:
“May you be happy.”
“May you be safe.”
“May you be healthy, peaceful, and strong.”
“May you give and receive appreciation today.”
“How to Practice Loving Kindness Meditation”
Another examples of the Loving Kindness blessing:
“May I be filled with loving-kindness.”
“May I be well in body and mind.”
“May I be at ease and happy.”
“May you be filled with loving-kindness.”
“May you be well in body and mind.”
“May you be at ease and happy.”
Meditation on Loving Kindness”
Think about it for a second. If your ‘enemies" have plenty of loving-kindness, safety, wellness, and happiness, they have a better chance of having a more open and compassionate mind. Who knows, they may even think about awakening and enlightenment. We don’t always know how we affect others. At the very least, you showed them how to be empathic, kind, and compassionate, even when you disagree.
You will also witness changes in your own life. When you come from a place of loving-kindness, it fills your life with more compassion and empathy. When you are in that space, it is easier for others to hear and accept what you are saying.
Based on my spiritual experiences and information from my Spirit Guides, the key to lasting change is people waking up to their spiritual purpose. We are out of balance with our world. Many things happening right now are trying to get our attention, wake us up, and get us to think and act differently.
If you would like help with being more grounded and centered, healing things out of balance, or finding your Divine purpose and moving forward on your spiritual journey, contact me.
I would love to hear about some of the tools you use for staying grounded and centered.
Peace & Blessings,
Chloe
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