being human,  embodiment,  writing

Choosing Calm Over Chaos

Wow, what a week. The world feels crazy right now with this Coronavirus pandemic. Lots of people have lots of opinions. The entire thing is politically divisive. The media is creating an even greater divide, inducing panic and fear.

Yesterday, the energy was palpable to me. Not a thought-based panic but a body-based felt-sense of the madness within the collective. The dread arrived as soon as I opened my eyes in the morning. I couldn’t rid myself of the anxiety right away but I did work with it throughout the day. Presence over pushing it away.

When the world feels like it’s spiraling out of control, I find simple ways to calm my nervous system. Here are 11 ideas for choosing calm over chaos:

  1. Breathe. Repeat. Breathe. Repeat. Breathe. Repeat.
  2. Go outside. Take in the fresh air. Take a walk. Play with your kids.
  3. Pet your dog. Hug your dog. Play with your dog. Watch your dog sleep. Be present with your dog. (They have SO much to teach us about letting things BE!)
  4. Journal using a prompt that taps you into your highest self. Don’t write about how you feel today if this whole thing has you out of sorts or panic-stricken; that will likely pull you down deeper. Write about your highest intention or a time that feels good to you. Here are some you might try.
  5. Read something uplifting. Poetry is a nice choice.
  6. Listen to music. Dance. Dance. Dance. Move your body!
  7. Cook something yummy at home. Eat it with your family.
  8. Create art. Draw. Paint. Play a musical instrument. Sing. Chant.
  9. Limit social media.
  10. Invite presence to your body. Feel how you feel without attaching to it (especially if you feel dread like I did yesterday). Just paying attention can help it dissipate and give you more information about your next best steps. Give yourself love and grace. (Always do this!)
  11. While social distancing is what is called for to slow the rate of transmission, don’t isolate completely. Practice safety but reach out to those closest to you. FaceTime and video-calling are great options between the miles. Ask for more hugs from your kids and significant other.

My take on this whole thing is that we each need to do our part to ‘flatten the curve,’ slow down the transmission, but we also need to realize that we are in this thing together and can help each other. Be kinder than usual. Find ways to be calm so that others can feel your energy. Choose grounding activities. Be of service, especially to those who are at greater risk (the elderly and immune-compromised people). Educate yourself via reliable, non-political sources and share with others. Fear of the unknown is often the cause of panic but ultimately none of us can control the future anyway. We can only control our own energy, choices and actions.

Sending so much love today and in the coming weeks. If you have other ideas, please add them to the comments. Together we are better.