It’s chaos out there! Everywhere you go, people are talking about how bad it is. You’re starting to feel troubled, too. What if there’s something to what they’re saying?
It’s been a long day of madness and confusion. You go home to your usual routine. Maybe you wash your hands, brush your hair. Put on your comfy clothes. Brew a cup of tea or coffee. Pour a glass of something tasty. Walk the dog. Sit with the cat.
You might be worried about running out of the stuff of life. You might be worrying about your elderly one not having enough toilet paper. What if you run out of pet food? So many things to worry about!
Your thoughts are tumbling like leaves in a storm, because what they’re saying is in the realm of possibility. And while that’s true, you still think they might be over-reacting.
But you’re getting caught up in the over-reaction! If you don’t act, then you might find yourself in some troublesome situation. Like running out of toilet paper. Like having your elderly one running out of noodles and tomato sauce.
Arrgh! What’s a level-headed, peaceful, loving person like you supposed to do?
Well, the first bit of truth is to take care of yourself first.
Treat it like the storm it is. Stock the cupboards, fill the gas tank, buy some extra pet food and cat litter. Pick up some paperback novels and coloring books.
You might fret about being a hoarder, and that’s a real worry.
Just remember that if you have it, you can share it. (You know that friend who’s kind of ditzy? Yeah, that one…)
What else can you do?
Here are some easy ways to help you find peace and stay balanced when chaos strikes.
1. Get some extra snooze time.
Sleep is like magic. It can fix a lot of things. So go to bed earlier. Turn off lights and devices15 minutes earlier tonight and add another 5 minutes every night until you start waking easily. Try using some OTC health aids like chamomile tea and magnesium glycinate.
You might get a lot of good from soaking in an Epsom salt bath because it helps you relax so you can fall asleep, it feels delicious, and it’s an easy way to supplement magnesium by absorbing it through your skin — you only absorb as much as you need. Just add a cup or two of Epsom salt to warm bath water and blissfully slide in the tub. You’ll know you’re deficient on magnesium if your skin tingles. And when it stops tingling, you’ll know you’ve absorbed enough for the moment.
Enjoy yourself! Turn on some mood music. Add a few drops of essential oil like lavender or bergamot, both of which help ease tension. Inhale a few breaths, feeling your rib cage expand and let go. Just focus on that for a few moments and see how you feel. Nice, huh? I think you’ll find it easier to sleep after your warm fragrant bath. I do.
It’s easy to stick to your new bedtime routine because it works and it makes you feel good, right?
2. Contemplate your navel.
Who are you? Who do you want to be? How do you want to feel? What do you really want to do with your life?
Chaos happens. It rarely happens when it’s convenient. You can focus on the chaos, or you can muse on the Big What Else.
Contemplate: to look thoughtfully at something for a while, to think profoundly and at length, to reflect on, to ponder, to consider, to meditate
Contemplation and meditation allow answers to rise to the top, where you can take notice of an “ah-ha moment.”
“Contemplation? Meditation!” you scream. “How can I meditate in this chaos?”
Almost anything you do can be meditative. It can be as simple as sitting quietly, watching a plant grow. Meditation can be petting your cat, walking your dog.
Dancing is meditation in motion. For those moments, you are simply a sensational body, moving with the flow.
Meditation can happen when you’re peeling potatoes and carrots, washing dishes. Showering. Dressing. Pulling on your socks.
Time for contemplation or meditation is something you give yourself, no matter how busy you are.
It’s easy to turn your everyday doings into mini meditations.
For those few seconds that you’re pulling on your socks, let your mind drift on thoughts of socks. Soft. Colorful. Snug. Comfy socks. Imagine your toes breathing. Now that’s a funny thought! I’m already feeling better.
And now that you’re reflecting and pondering, it’s time to direct your thought flow. It’s not relaxing if you’re thinking about all that can go wrong, is it?
3. Be more like Pollyanna: Think happy thoughts.
Pollyanna is the delightfully happy character of a series of books and movies. [i] A Pollyanna attitude basically means that you see the best in any situation or person. You have an optimistic outlook, whether optimism is warranted or not.
The reality is that you’ve already given lots of attention to the chaos. Now it’s time to think about something else. It may be easier said than done but thinking about something else is an excellent alternative for feeling peaceful and balanced in chaotic times.
Now, I’m not saying to ignore the situation. It’s important to take care of stuff, pay your bills, take out the trash, and all the other stuff that your life is made of.
How peaceful might you feel if you flip the switch from worrying about toilet paper to thinking about something that makes you happy?
And that’s a good question: What makes you happy? I’m not asking what other people do that makes you happy. I’m asking a general question. What makes you happy?
Happiness is a choice. It’s not a result of something outside your control.
It’s your own thoughts, and you get to choose them.
Life is gonna happen, no matter how chaos strikes. You can modify how it affects you by choosing to think thoughts that make you feel good.
Here’s How You Flip the Switch
When you find your mind straying off into chaos, mentally flip the switch, like a light switch on the wall. You could flip a coin or turn in a circle.
Then think about something that makes you happy. Think of your favorite color, a song, a leaf drifting in the wind. Think of how good you look in your favorite shirt. I can literally look at the blue sky, thinking how beautiful it is, and it triggers a smile.
That’s because I trained myself to think a better thought anytime I look at the sky. When it’s cloudy and gray, I’m happy because it might mean rain or snow. We need the moisture, right? A rainy day brings to mind sitting with a good book and a cup of something tasty, making homemade soup, listening to good music. See? That’s an easy thought!
Doing something physical could stop the thought-train barreling into chaos, bouncing painfully off the walls in your head. Pick up the clutter, take the trash out, peel some carrots. Or chop onions. That’ll clear your head!
Take a few breaths. That’s better. Brings a smile to my face.
Remember that everything is temporary.
You’re on the Earth to experience stuff that makes you stretch your awareness, to learn compassion and cooperation. The times might be scary — might be fantastic. This kind of stuff helps you understand the overall picture of the why and wherefore. (That might happen sometime in the future, but you’ll get there!)
Go with it. This is how it is, right now. Struggling against it will only wear you out, and then you might miss something important. Be mindful of your thoughts and actions, and correct them as they stray.
Remember that we’re all struggling, so wishful thoughts such as “I wish everyone well, with hope and peace” are necessary, too.
There are enough people thinking negative thoughts. You can be the one who leads them into increasing well-being for everyone.
The Earth needs people to hold the balance. Be that one.
If you want peace of mind:
Do what you can, take care of the stuff of life, and think happier thoughts.
I know that sounds simplistic but it beats worrying, and it’ll make you feel better.
Do It the Easy Way with Hypnosis/Life Coaching
If you want
- clarity to
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[i] “Pollyanna.” Reference https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pollyanna