Peace or Panic: What Will You Choose?
None of us know what tomorrow will bring. We are living in an unsettling, unprecedented time. And it is triggering intense feelings for all of us.
We are facing a collective, global crisis. Yet each emotion and experience is unique. Every day, every hour, every minute we can choose how to adapt and respond. Is it easy? No. Is it possible? Yes.
And what about those of us who had physical or emotional challenges before this unexpected pandemic? I have deep compassion. People who struggle with anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder, ADHD, type-A personalities. Parents who have children with special needs. Those who are staying home and are living with an abusive spouse/partner.
As a society in general, we are rewarded for doing more, running more, succeeding more. What if more is not better? What if more is actually harming our psyches and souls? We’ve been forced to stop the doing and start being. I am grateful for the forced pause.
What will you choose? Peace, panic, or something in between? I am choosing peace. But I realized that to get from panic to peace, you must be present. And to be present, you need to be honest with yourself.
It may mean dealing with stuff you buried years ago. It will require you to sit with the scary, uncomfortable emotions. As I thought about what to write this week, I realized there is a third option, which is presence.
We are all experiencing this differently depending on personal circumstances. It’s different for everyone. There’s no one-size-fits-all for healing. There’s no one-size-fits-all for coping. I feel strongly that we need to be kind and compassionate with ourselves, loved ones, and strangers.
How do we choose peace and presence? Here are my thoughts:
* Breathe out the fear and the “what ifs”
* Focus on what you can control
* Reach out and connect with others; you are not alone
* Take this time to reevaluate your life. What do you want to embrace? What will you release?
* Limit media consumption. Set boundaries for yourself.
* Schedule a “date with yourself” every day. Meditate, walk, listen to music, write, bake, learn a new skill. This is the time!
* Pay attention to physical cues (breathing, heart rate) and tune into your body. It will scream at you if you don’t heed the whispers.
Take this time to get to know yourself better. What calms you? How do you stay healthy? Only you can find that answer. And it lies within yourself.
I look forward to learning about and writing YOUR stories. You can connect with me via Facebook, Instagram, or email (dara@everysoulhasastory.com) And I hope you’ll join me next week for Wednesday Wisdom Live!