RESPONDING TO GREATER WORLD PRESSURES
Climate, politics, and now COVID-19. There’s been a lot going on in the world lately, and as we’re faced with greater pressures, the importance of caring for our mental health couldn’t be higher. And with all of these challenges we face, we’re given an opportunity to learn and grow for the better. Just as the Chinese word for ‘crisis’ means both ‘danger’ and ‘opportunity’, now is the time to become stronger and wiser.
☛ You’ll find a guided hypnotherapy meditation for staying grounded at centered at the end of this post, so read on or scroll to the bottom if you’re keen to get grounded and centered.
危险
The Chinese word for ‘crisis’ uses both the characters DANGER & OPPORTUNITY
UNDERSTANDING FEAR
You’ve probably noticed between the memes of toilet paper hoarding that there’s been a lot of fear spreading throughout the collective consciousness lately. And you’ve likely felt it rising in you at times too. Which is totally natural and ok. But you don’t have to hang out with fear if it isn’t serving you. And if you’d like to spend more time with peace and happiness, read on.
Now about fear, it can spread quickly and gain momentum with each person it touches. And while it’s as infectious as a virus, it can easily be treated and overcome.
When your mind perceives a threat, it activates fear, or flight, or fight. This is helpful when you’re running from a lion, but in day-to-day life, not so much. The good news is, you can train your mind to respond differently to non-lion threats. Your mind is there to serve you, and you get to be in the driver’s seat telling it where to go.
You have the freedom to choose where you steer your mental and emotional state.
CLAIMING YOUR POWER IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT
Claiming your driver’s seat involves being in the present moment. Because you don’t want a distracted driver daydreaming about the future when you’re navigating tricky terrain.
And a fast and easy way to get yourself into the here and now is by first breathing deeply, and then asking yourself, ‘Is there anything I need to do RIGHT NOW?’ At this very moment, what do you need to do? You definitely need to breathe, you’d run into trouble pretty quickly without your breath. And at this moment, do you need to do anything else?
Is there any immediate threat to you, or are you safe at this moment? Do you have shelter, food, and water? Now start noticing how well cared for you are. Appreciate the plumbing, heat, and electricity in your home. Appreciate this goldilocks planet that gives you all the oxygen, sunshine, and nourishment you need.
FEAR LIVES OUTSIDE THE PRESENT MOMENT
Notice how fear comes from outside of the present moment. (Unless you’re currently running from a lion. In which case, WHY ARE YOU READING THIS?! RUN FASTER!!)
So any time you feel fear, panic, or anxiety encroaching, come back to here and now. Come back to your breath. Breathe deeply and appreciate at least 3 things around you.
Now you may be thinking, ‘that’s all well and good, but I need to worry about this stuff so I can know what to do!’ And if so my question to you is, are you better able to think and move forward from a place of fear and anxiety, or from a place of calm and presence?
When you come back to this moment, you gain the awareness and presence to move forward in a way that feels right for you. Where you get stuck is in your head, and your head lives in the past and future. It’s in this moment where you’re fully alive and present.
GUIDED HYPNOTHERAPY TO CLAIM YOUR DRIVER’S SEAT
And to forge even stronger relationships with your pal’s peace and happiness, try this guided hypnotherapy meditation. It will help you claim your driver’s seat and bring you into here and now, regardless of what’s happening around you. And as you hang with peace and happiness, you might just find yourself spreading a little more light around the world.
Listen to this recording each day for 21 days, and watch how your life changes.
I would LOVE to hear how this goes for you. Please share in the comments or connect with me on Facebook or Instagram.