Getting Real Part 1

I am super aware that there are lots of things going on that are causing worry, panic, and dis-ease in our bodies. There is anxiety, overwhelm and sleepless nights.

The constant threat of depression and despair is growing and very real for many. It can feel like riding a roller-coaster that doesn't stop!

For many everything has gone wrong; perhaps you have lost someone you loved, lost (or are) losing your job or business, lost money, etc. 

So, how do we cope with feelings of loss, hopelessness, and complete despondency?

How do we not give up? How do we fight back?

How do we find happiness again?

Let’s start here today with this foundation.

1. Breathe
Wait, don't stop reading. You literally need to focus on your breath way more. Notice when you get anxious and you will probably notice you hold back your breath. Work to breathe with intention during times of high stress especially. Not hyper-ventilating, but long slow deep breaths. Find a mantra that you speak for inhale and exhale. 

2. Remember this: this too will pass
It will. It just will. It is not infinite. Yes, it may change how we live and how we see things but it will not be forever. When the mind dreads permanency, think about other times of your life (perhaps when you were young) when things were not going your way and you thought it would last forever. Did it? Most likely not. 

3. Light at the end of the tunnel (follow step one and two repeatedly)
Keep your focus on the 'long game' so that you can calm down growing anxiety. Breathe and remember. 

4. Poco a poco "little by little" (in Spanish)
One step at a time. When and where did we learn that everything has to happen instantaneously? Remember how you could play for hours when you were little? Along the way our expectations evolved to bring us to space where everything MUST happen immediately. Take a breathe. Poco a poco. 

5. Be gentle with yourself
It's okay. It makes sense. Of course you are allowed to feel this way. You are feeling this way. 

6. Time does not heal all wounds
It's not time that heals the wounds. It is the work of showing up for yourself daily. Here is the truth. You may feel you are over something and then, there is a ping of a painful memory. But the work that you do each day is what you draw from to manage the pain better and better. So it is really about what you put into it, that heals you.

7. Allow yourself to grieve
Say goodbye to those things you need to let go. Allow a little time to grieve, then work to move on.

8. Don't make big decisions
In times of high anxiety and despair, put off making huge decisions. Just wait until the waters are less rough.

9. Re-imagine the future
Now is the time to re-imagine the future. Consider what it is you have always wanted. Write in your journal (or start one). Allow yourself to dream of your future with positivity and light. 

10. Be present and find gratitude
Bottom line is, you are here right now and that is the only certainty, so take time to find gratitude in the moment. Look for little things. Maybe even reading this just was a nice reminder that you will make it through.

11. Now Pray (Pray Now)
Prayer, much like meditation in Buddhism, or concentration on breathing techniques in Yoga, causes the mind and body to focus on singular focal points that align the mind, soul, and physical aspects of a person to lower cortisol levels, improve oxygen utilization, and confer numerous other psychological benefits. While researchers may contest the idea of God answering prayer, many aren’t denying that it can serve beneficial roles in people’s lives. Shaya Love at Vice says, “Prayer and meditation could be extremely helpful, both to the body and mind.”