At this point in the world, we must all realize that we’re living in very challenging times and yet at the same time, a very profound transformational period. It seems everybody I know is going through something on a personal level-illness, fatigue, sadness, depression. grief, and or loss.
In addition to your personal journeys, we are being threatened by, political breakdowns, mass shootings, devastating earthquakes, merciless wildfires, and severe storms- with mass flooding.
Humanity is in the throes of an ever-growing collective consciousness that wants to evolve, yet old ways of being and outdated modes of consciousness are struggling to hold on to the known.
So, the big question today, is ‘How do we build resilience so that we do not collapse under stress, grief, loss, and fear and at the same time keep our hearts open to others and take care of ourselves?’
Awakening is no longer a luxury or an idea. It is critical.
It is also critical that we deal with our own anger, feelings of separation, addictions, and fear.
Mayo Clinic reports that Resilience is the ability to adapt well and recover quickly after stress, adversity, trauma, or tragedy.
I believe I have developed strong resilience over my lifetime resulting from my childhood and the traumas I experienced as well as the transition tools and spiritual practices I have taught and engaged in over the years.
I have had losses that have taken me to the underworld of darkness, but I have always been able to rebound.
The eye of a hurricane is a place of calm, around which spins the storm. We become the eye when we pull ourselves out of the chaos and into the present moment.
Here are several ways that I recommend to pull yourself out of the storm and into the calm of the eye of the storm that will help you build resilience to deal with emotional and physical pain during these difficult times.
Five Daily Practices to Build Resilience
Mindful Awareness of Thoughts
Stop and experience what you are doing driving, doing the laundry, or walking. If you are thinking thoughts of the past or future bring your mind to the now. Focus on your heart, and breath, and come back into the awareness of the present moment to help regulate yourself.
Heart-Coherence Meditation
New research indicates that you do not need to meditate for long periods of time to have a positive effect. You do have to connect the breath to the heart and the brain. Start by sitting and relaxing for 5-15 minutes. Inhale from the heart to the head and exhale the breath from the head to the heart. When you connect the heart and the brain you develop less resistance to meditating.
Support Group
Join a spiritual, grief, walking, hiking, or meditation group with at least 4 people who come together live or remotely to support each other in moving through these difficult but transformational times. It is critical to have a support network that you can count on during these challenging times.
Walk and engage with Nature Walking outside allows your nervous system to calm your cognitive systems to rest and lift your mood. Sit under a tree, and explore what is around you-animals, plants, flowers, and rocks. Allow yourself to see and experience the beauty around you.
Gratitude
Start your morning by saying what you are grateful for. If you think you have nothing to be grateful for being grateful for your breath and that you woke up today. Gratitude for your life will change your life
Extreme Self-Care and Compassion
During periods of stress, we often fall back on old patterns of relating to ourselves and the world. We can be harsh and critical, and not care for our bodies. To build resilience we must support our body and mind to heal with healthy food, water, and exercise. You must care for yourself!
These are just a few of the ways to develop tools that help you become more resilient. How have you become more resilient? Let me know, I am always interested in learning what helps others.
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