Staying Sane in a Crazy World

It's the end of week 3 of "social distancing" in the United States, due to COVID-19. Wow, how life has changed!

My inner guide loves to play DJ. I often find songs stuck in my head that when I stop to consider the lyrics reveal messages directly related to my life and what's happening in it at that very moment. Right now the chorus of a song by REM is playing over and over. "It's the end of the world as we know it. It's the end of the world as we know it. It's the end of the world as we know it, and I feel fine...." Weird right? But actually I DO feel as if it's the end of the world as we know it. I don't think we will ever go back to "normal" as it was. What we are experiencing right now, as a collective, global community is completely unprecedented. No one knows how this ends. No one knows how this crisis will affect us or our way of life, long term. To say the future is uncertain is an understatement. Not only is the distant future uncertain, but next week is completely uncertain. The human psyche HATES to deal with uncertainty. It is scary and uncomfortable. We are at a crucial turning point, as individuals and as a species. We can choose love or we can choose fear.

Personally, I have gone to my default position for whenever life gets challenging or scary. My mantra always is "I trust that all is unfolding according to a divine plan, for my greatest good and highest benefit. Whether I can see it in this moment, or not." So I am not only holding this thought for my own life, trusting that all will turn out OK, but also for the collective good, for the world. Things are bad right now. People are dying, others are losing people close and important to them. But I have to believe that good will come of it. I feel like blind faith is required now, faith in whatever gets you through life, or even just through the day. I have faith that better days are ahead. I have faith that everything always turns out alright in the end. If it's not alright, it's not the end. We just have to keep that faith and stick together, keep putting one foot in front of the other, marking one day off the calendar at a time. Try not to "future trip" about next month, or even next week. If nothing else, this thing is teaching us to live in the present, because we have ZERO idea what tomorrow will bring. We just have to stay sane, whatever it takes to make that happen.

Here's what's working for me right now, helping to keep me sane and grounded.

1. Staying connected. Reaching out to friends and family via Zoom, FaceTime, text, email, carrier pigeon, whatever works! Check in regularly, and especially with your friends facing this alone, or those who suffer from depression or anxiety. And staying connected has all kinds of physical health benefits too, like boosting your immune system.

2. Focusing on the good. And there is a LOT of good happening right now, if you look for it. (If the news is stressing you out, feel free to tune out for a bit!) I look for stories that make me feel good, and share things on social media that make me laugh.

3. Releasing things beyond my control. So much of what is happening is way beyond my control. All I can influence is within my four walls really, so I'm choosing to let go of the rest. I cannot control the stock market or it's effect on my 401k, so I release it. I cannot control the government, the President, the Congress, my Governor, my Mayor OR their responses to this. So I choose to release my frustrations and fear. They don't serve me in this situation. When it comes time to vote, I will exercise my power at that time. Until then, it is what it is.

4. Getting outside daily. Long walks with my dog Jax, or playing with him in the yard. Just getting fresh air and sunshine makes me feel better. Nature is so healing.

5. Setting a couple of small goals each day. I'm not working right now, so accomplishing even a few small, mundane things makes me feel productive and a little more "normal."

6. Having some semblance of a schedule, especially a morning routine. Starting off the day in a "normal" way helps make me feel grounded.

7. Meditation, prayer & gratitude. And there is so much to be grateful for. In this moment, I am healthy. I have a roof over my head and food to eat. I am ok. I have what I need. I trust that will continue, and I am grateful in advance.

8. Being gentle with myself. It's ok to feel scared, or sad, or depressed. There are no "wrong" feelings. However I'm feeling is appropriate to the moment. I allow myself to feel it then find a way to move back to love.

This is my "new normal." If you are riding this out alone as I am, know that you are alone only in the physical state. In spirit you are never alone. These times are tough for everyone, but I have faith that we will get through this if we do it TOGETHER.  We will make it through if we choose love, not fear. For through love all things are possible.

Praying that you and yours are all healthy and safe. Stay home and we will make it through, apart but together!

Namaste