Depending on when you read this, there are many reasons for life to make you feel stressed, anxious or depressed.
We have been through a time where we feel trauma as a culture, as individual groups within the collective and as individuals.
Do you know what things are causing you to feel stressed, anxious or depressed?
It is important to make space for your traumas. To identify and acknowledge they are there and begin healing from them.
Sometimes though, you can feel overwhelmed by things happening in your world or the world at large and not realize how much power they have over you.
When this happens to you, I want you to build a way to respond that helps you to re-center your body.
Here is one easy way to center yourself:
- Breathe in slowly. Count 1...2...3...4... Count slowly until your lungs feel full.
- Breathe out slowly. Count backward more slowly than you counted in... 5...4...3...2...1...
- Breathe in slowly again.
- Breathe out slowly again.
- Repeat breathing in and out until you feel in the moment and centered in your body.
- Close your eyes and think about how you feel.
- Write down what comes to you.
- Focus on your breath and come back to the reading.
Take a few moments looking at this photo or close your eyes and imagine a place where you feel calm and good. Keep focusing on your breath.
If you need more time, see this post on finding stillness and come back to this post.
Now that you have taken a moment to feel centered in your body, let's talk about what is driving your stress.
Getting to the root of how you feel
What were you doing that led to the feeling?
Are you worrying about things that are in or out of your control? There will be troubles in the world everyday...what are yours to carry?
Are you stressing about things that you can or cannot change?
What action can you take to release the stress?
Stress and anxious feelings will come up for you again. Next time you feel it, center yourself by focusing on your breath and ask yourself what you are doing that led to the feeling. Ask yourself what you need to do or even can do? Then focus on finding actions or activities that help you stay hopeful and present in your life.
Why worry about tomorrow when it hasn’t happened yet?
Trust the universe to provide what you put your energy to.
You still need to show up and do the work. Take actions you can take and do it with love and abundance. Leave behind your fear and doubt.
You are here to live this life with great purpose. Believe that and focus on what you have the ability to control to help your brain from allowing the troubles of the world to overwhelm you.
Stay hopeful, friend.
