How to Stay Grounded During a Crisis
I sit here with my 30 week old foster baby peacefully sleeping on my chest and I’m thinking about the current state of the world. I see so much fear and anxiety swirling around and I have so many thoughts and feelings about it all. I marvel at this little precious one, breathing and resting while not having a clue about the state of the world. He doesn’t know what’s going on - but he knows that right now in this moment, he is safe, he is loved, he is held - and so he’s able to rest and be at peace. I believe we all need this right now.
On a personal level, many of my days have looked the same as before. I'm home, taking care of three young children, and keeping busy caring for their needs. I'm exhausted, which I have been for some time now (three newborns in 18 months - whew!) and I'm also very aware of my need to find nourishment however I can, so that I can do a good job caring for and loving these precious ones who've been entrusted to me for a time.
In a time when it feels like the ground has been pulled from beneath us, we all need to find grounding and nourishment.
Our world is in a time of collective uncertainty.
For many of us, our daily lives have been abruptly altered.
Our culture is confronting some deep wounds that need deep healing, which will require a lot of hard work and discomfort in the pursuit of justice and true freedom for all.
As we approach a polarizing election, many are feeling worried, uncertain, even fearful.
This is real. It's challenging. It's strange. It's heartbreaking.
But there is good news in all of this.
There is a God who steadies the earth with his breath. There is a God who made you and calls you Very Good and calls you Beloved.
This God is still at work and is capable of holding the weight of the world while tenderly caring for each one of us.
As I hold on to these truths, I've still been feeling the weight of sorrow for the world. I've been wondering about those who are fearful of this virus. I've been praying for the most vulnerable in our world who, because of this, are at an increased risk for oppression
It’s hard to know what to do and how to help on a global scale. For some, giving financially to organizations is a great way to support our brothers and sisters most in need. For some, their financial situation has all-of-a-sudden become very unstable. This can be very un-grounding.
When we feel like the ground is unsteady, we can start to feel very unsafe. When we feel unsafe, our body’s stress response kicks in and can make it difficult to make decisions, to stay calm, to be present, and have peace.
I believe that we can do something to help ourselves and others through this time. I believe that if we can find safety and grounding (presence and peace) in the midst of this, we can better care for ourselves, our loved ones, and the world. For this reason, I’ve been feeling an urgency to share with you all. To make available some helpful tools to stay grounded, to be reminded, to stay mentally and emotionally well during a global pandemic that's altering life as we know it.
SOME PRACTICAL WAYS TO STAY grounded in times of crisis:
Unplug.
Take some intentional time every day, be it 10 minutes or 60, to stop scrolling. Turn off the news, stop looking and listening to anything outside of you. Of course it’s good to be aware and informed, but there’s a point where it turns into worry. Anxiety is one of the most contagious emotions. So being so connected to news, etc., truly can cause more stress, more fear, more anxiety. Use that time instead to do one or more of the following:
Step outside.
Nature has a beautiful way of grounding us if we let it. Step outside and breathe the air. Notice the sun or the rain or the clouds or for some, the snow. Notice the sounds, the smells, the colors. Here in New York, the leaves have been changing into the most brilliant colors! It’s refreshing and grounding and healing.
Breathe and Move.
Our breath is so much more powerful than we often give it credit for. Our breathing keeps us alive! Not only that, intentionally tuning in and slowing our breath can calm our nervous system and help our body and brain move our nervous system from the sympathetic response (fight, flight or freeze) to a parasympathetic response (rest and digest). This means that we can move out of our primal brain, the stress response, into our conscious brain, with the ability to think clearly, remain calm, and make good decisions.
Connect.
Not through a keypad, but voice-to-voice, and if possible, face-to-face. If you’re struggling with anything from fear, anxiety, worry, or overwhelm (or even just boredom), reach out to someone. Share and connect. We need each other. And if you’re really struggling and need to talk to a professional, please don’t hesitate. I’m sure many counselors and therapists are offering virtual sessions during this time. I continue to offer private yoga therapy/embodied healing sessions with clients in person and virtually and would love to help as well. You can read more about that here.
Cultivate your Spirituality
A connection to our Creator and to Spirit is one way to help us stay grounded when the world around us (and maybe even our internal world) feels unsteady. Finding ways to connect with God will help remind you and ground you into Love, which can bring a sense of peace and bigger-picture peace. There are so many ways to cultivate your spiritual practice! Here are just a few: prayers, reading scriptures or writings, connecting to a community, being in nature, listening to music, admiring or creating art, and more.
Practice Presence and Gratitude.
When our brain feels unsafe or or things feel uncertain, it can trigger our body to go into anxiety-mode, causing us to flee from the present and get stuck ruminating on the past or worrying about the future. It can be a vicious cycle and one simple, yet effective way to stop it is to get yourself to be present in the moment. Focusing on your breath is one simple way. Here’s a simple practice that I love to use and teach: As you inhale fully, feel your feet on the ground and say “I AM”. As you exhale fully, feel your feet on the ground and say “Here.” Another extremely helpful tool is to practice gratitude. Taking a moment to focus on the things you do have. The things in your life that bring you joy and delight. It can be very simple, yet profound, to walk around looking for things to be thankful for and remembering our blessings. The research shows, and Psychology Today writes, “Feeling grateful boosts happiness and fosters both physical and psychological health, even among those already struggling with mental health problems.”
I hope you find this helpful and I’d love to hear from you about it! What are ways you’re staying grounded and soul-nourished during this time? I’d love to hear from you. Connect with me on instagram or via the contact button above.
ALSO, SOME EXCITING NEWS…
After a great virtual retreat experience, I’ve decided to offer this as a class for anyone who would like to do their own mini retreat at home with some guidance from me and those who taught we me.
A portion of the profits will be going to A Long Walk Home : A non-profit organization that empowers young artists and activists to end violence against all girls and women. They advocate for racial and gender equity in schools, communities, and our country-at-large.
(I’m also currently working on an online membership program for those who’d like to incorporate regular healing and nourishing practices into their lives. Be sure to sign up here to be notified as soon as that’s ready and open!)
I’d love to know how I can support you more during this time! In the meantime, may you find more Peace and Presence in your life. I know this NOURISHED virtual wellness retreat will help!