“Surrendering to what is… frees the answer to what’s next.”
The last couple of weeks I found myself feeling assaulted and then defensive.
It’s my response to the disrespectful and negative energies being perpetuated onto our humanity and to our precious Mother Earth.
Lives slaughtered, anger, resentment, and fear viciously demonstrated, is both senseless and incomprehensible. With each new account I began to feel more powerless and depleted. It was difficult to breathe.
In my every day activities I found an endless stream of fresh trash and garbage every where I went. Whether at the Rec Center, the bike park, the grocery store parking lot, or Evergreen lake, there was a total disregard for personal responsibility and preservation.
I found myself disheartened by the dog poop and cigarette butts bordering all my favorite and familiar trails. The excess of it all snatched my attention and forced me to disconnect from the beauty that was still there, peaking through.
I continued to pick up trash while making condescending remarks about the dog owners and the health of the nicotine addicts. At one point I found myself laughing at how awful this all was and then really “needing to do something” about it!
Finally I recognized what was happening. I saw that my focus on all this dark energy had distracted and derailed me. I saw that I was now resisting doing my own part and had joined the ranks of “feeling resentful and angry.”
Awareness is such a powerful ally! In this instance it stopped me in my tracks and demanded to be acknowledged. I took a long deep breath, regrouped and listened. Like a bolt of lightening, the next right steps were revealed to me. They immediately helped me realign with my serenity, gratitude and acceptance.
Try these 3 life-saving steps for yourself:
- Unplug from the hype. Whether it is the news, FB, email, criticism, or someone else’s drama ~ if it is unsettling, move away. Let go of being a captive audience. Unplug yourself from the connection! A client shared with me recently about her experience with listening to NPR. She said she had always enjoyed listening in until now. She found every time she tuned in these days, she felt anxious and frustrated. Rather than accompanying her while she worked, she found it to be distracting and uncomfortable. She made a decision to just unplug for a few days. Good idea.
- Give Yourself a time out. Give yourself permission to sit this one out for a bit. What if you gave yourself an extra 5 minutes in the shower to luxuriate in the soothing water and your gratitude? What if you just didn’t go to that event or party? How would it feel to stay home in your lounge wear? You could read, watch a movie, or even have a meaningful conversation with a loved one. What if you gave yourself permission to saunter rather than rush, just for now?
- Nurture in Nature. Mother Earth always has a way of comforting and healing us when we allow it. Walk out your door and head to the closest gathering of trees, water, or meadow that you can find. No iPod, headphones, or conversation. Look. Listen. Smell. Feel. Be one with nature and allow her grace to fill you up and bring you home. BREATHE in Life and remember who you are and what is true.
Whatever we are thinking and feeling in the moment are our predominant points of attraction. When we consciously shift our focus back to ourselves and our role in any situation, we can see the seduction of evil and release from it. We are free to choose how we contribute our loving, positive energy to the world.
PONDER THIS:
What one action could you take to remove something in your environment that doesn’t contribute to your wellbeing?
If you choose, please share your action in the comments below.