I hope you are well. I hope your loved ones are well. And I hope that things in your neck of the woods are well, too.
These are times when wishing one another well is one of the first things our hearts gravitate toward—and with good reason. Times are challenging at the moment, and we don’t know how long things will remain this way.
First of all, I hope that in your personal life, things are peaceful and grounded. We know that is not the case for everyone. No doubt you’ve been reading about what has been going on over the past few months with the current U.S. administration. There may be layers and layers of experience between peace and disruption.
I begin each day with prayers and intentions for peace and wellness—for all of you and your loved ones.
Lately, I have been encountering many who are troubled, worried, desperate—those experiencing panic attacks, anxiety, depression, and other forms of unhappiness and fear. Some of these are my clients, and others are close friends.
With that in mind, I offer these relatively simple suggestions for grounding. We start with the most accessible: your breath. Deep breathing—inhale through your nose, exhale through your mouth—to a steady count of 1, 2, 3, 4. Simply repeat, for as long as is comfortable.
Another option is alternate nostril breathing. Begin by placing your thumb on your left nostril and inhaling through the right. Then switch—cover the right nostril with your thumb or index finger and exhale through the left. Continue alternating in this way for as long as it feels good.
Another beautiful self-care practice involves creativity. Creativity can take many forms—painting, drawing, cooking, sewing, singing, needlework, writing, dictating aloud, photography, gardening, or simply sitting quietly and listening to the birds. I’m sure you’ll add other ideas to this (incomplete!) list.
The point of both of these suggestions is to keep your energy flowing. From experience, we know that during times of stress, when so much feels out of our control, we tend to “freeze” our energy—not literally, but emotionally, energetically. Consciously or unconsciously, we stop the flow. These simple practices are ways to gently give yourself a loving message: it’s okay to let it move. That movement brings peace, calm, and a sense of stability.
And of course, whichever practice you choose, remember to “rinse and repeat” as often as you’d like.
I’ll be back next week with more discussion on self-care, and also how to offer care to others. As sensitive empaths, that impulse comes naturally. We’ll talk about that next time.
Sending you warm blessings and lots of love. Go ahead and spread them around as you wish!
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