Wow, here we are in 2020 living what resembles a sci-fi movie that we have watched on tv. I can’t tell you how many times the words “I can’t believe this is real” has crossed the forefront of my brain. We have been blessed; the majority of us, “good times” since we came into this world. The closest thing I recall to a worldly upset in my lifetime was September 11, 2001. I can remember feeling this dark gloom and sadness that lingered over me for a few months. The recession of 2008 was financially challenging, but things were so out of balance, something had to give, and it did. Life for most has been on the up and up since 2008.
Since this stay at home order was instated a few weeks ago and we are living this pandemic from a front row seat; I’ve had a few moments of worry and sadness. I personally have not had much anxiety; I have struggled with more of a sadness. I am not typically an anxious person, but I internalize my emotions which is not the best healing tactic. I am now aware that I am prone to internalizing my emotions and I am making mindful changes to continue on my healing journey called “life”.
Many people are feeling extreme uncertainty and fearful on many levels. What can we do to manage our fears and anxiety? We can really control only a handful of things in our lives if you think about it. What we can control is how we react to, and in a situation. If you have children at home; they are watching, they are always watching whether we think they are or not. They are learning how we are digesting and reacting to our present situation. It is healthy and a teaching moment when they see us worry; but now is the time to teach them skills to manage anxiety that maybe no one ever taught us. How helpful do you think learning skills to manage anxiety and fear would have been for you if you had learned some techniques when you were a child? The saying goes like this “You can’t teach an old dog new tricks”; it turns out that old dogs like new tricks too. It’s never too late to learn; and we shall start now!
Let us learn to manage our stress, fears, and anxiety in a healthy way and teach these priceless lessons to our children. Talk with your children. Share a practice of gratitude. Teach them that they cannot control what is happening, but they are more powerful than they know. They have the power to control their response and reaction like a powerful superhero. We are more powerful than we have given ourselves credit for or taught to believe. We are children of God. We are electrical beings that are full of energy. Energy flows through every organ, gland, and cell of the body. Here’s the catch; when we start to get stuck with emotions, we begin to diminish our energy; like Superman’s power being drained by Kryptonite. When this happens, over time we can lose our life force energy, which can lead us to illness. Just like the good witch of the North Glinda tells Dorothy, “You had the power all along my dear”. I want to share a few ideas we can do to redirect negative emotions and keep our life force or God energy flowing.
We can’t make any changes about how we process emotions until we become aware. Are you aware of when you feel your energy changing? It would typically be when you start to feel emotions of sadness, depression, anger, etc. Again, the first thing we can do is become aware. Once you are aware, pause. Easy breezy, right? Pause without responding or reacting. Notice, ok I’m recognizing that I am feeling something uncomfortable. Use this opportunity as a chance for practice and healing. I always look at everything as a learning opportunity/lesson without taking it personally, and a practice to improve. Allow yourself to feel the emotion, try not to stifle it. These uncomfortable feelings are just congested energy that has gotten stuck inside you and it is up to you if you want to keep it there or have that energy “keep on trucking”. Begin to breathe as you feel this energy until the feelings of emotion subside, you will feel it building to a peak. This is truly a practice of breathing through the energy to get to the other side. You can then repeat to yourself a favorite, quote, bible verse, or something that fills you up. When you are new at this, you may find yourself doing this often, and that is a good thing. It is a mindfulness practice. We are retraining our brains and our future.
Breathing, mediation, yoga, and mindfulness is on almost every cover from magazines to newspapers because it has been scientifically proven to work. It doesn’t work if you do not practice it, or practice just one or a few times and quit because you didn’t get the immediate result we have been conditioned to believe we should have at an instant. It doesn’t come easy for most; it is a PRACTICE. We don’t typically start anything and do it from perfection the first few tries. Use the time that we have been given here on this earth to enhance your life. Share these practices with your children so that are not one day adults struggling with anxiousness and fear.
I believe mindfulness is the skill you practice prior to developing the skill and patience for meditation. Just becoming aware is a mindfulness practice. I love guided meditations. Starting with short guided meditations and practicing them a few times a day. Set an alarm on your phone that you mindfully breathe for 10 deep breaths every hour and recite your favorite quote, Bible verse or intention. I added a few links below. Before getting out of bed, think and feel 5-10 things you are grateful for. Feeling positive thoughts is way more powerful than thinking them.
I also want to finish with a few supplements that can be very helpful for anxiety and emotions. I love Bach Flower Remedies. Bach Flower Remedies are homeopathic medicine that work on emotions you may be struggling with. I have used these personally with clients as well as on myself with great success.
Natural Calm is a magnesium lactate supplement sold most places including grocery stores. I have had so much success in helping managing nerves and sleeplessness With my clients.
Gaia herbs have great blends for stress and anxiety as well as there is a Nerve Blend that is less expensive from Solaray.
Children and adults can use the starfish breathing technique.
3 Minute Guided Meditationhttps://youtu.be/iebciuBXCh4
Starfish Breath Technique https://youtu.be/JV6e4wCO4MQ
4-7-8 Breath https://youtu.be/gz4G31LGyog