What just happened?!
Last week was pretty real, pretty raw, right?
I’m talking about what happened in our country on January 6. As well as what happened inside us.
I was one of the millions of people who were horrified while watching what was happening in Washington and felt helpless. I began to get caught up in blame and anger. Then I felt my body contract, my stomach tighten, my breath get shallow. It felt awful. I felt helpless.
On that VERY SAME MORNING, I woke up to a text from my son who lives in Atlanta telling me of the outcome of the Georgia senate races. No matter what your political leanings, consider what Stacey Abrams wrote on that day: While today’s terrible display of terror and meanness shakes us, let’s remember Ossoff, Jewish son of an immigrant and Reverend Warnock, first Black Senator from Georgia, will join a Catholic POTUS & the first woman, Black + Indian VP in our nation’s capital.
So BOTH of these things were happening on the same day:
horrible anger and looting in our nation’s capitol, while our legislators are hiding for their lives
a powerful showing of diversity by the American voters
(I’m not suggesting you agree with the second point here, you can replace this point with something else that makes you happy. Just find a positive contrast.)
So I thought to myself “Wait a minute. I feel awful, I feel helpless, I’m getting drawn into the anger and blame and I don’t want to!”. I had to do something about my state of being, and quick! I felt as though there was nothing I could so, when actually there WAS something I could do. I could stop adding to the anger and blame. I could pull my negativity away from the flames that were fast become a bonfire.
So I began a few self-care tools I use for times like this:
I turned off the TV news.
I began speaking the truth to myself, ie from A Course in Miracles “Everything is neutral – I give everything its meaning. I want to experience peace, even if I don’t know how right now.”
Then I did some Ho’Oponopono with the square breath prayer.
Then I got some essential oils and breathed them in (Console, Vetiver and Frankincense).
Then I went to Costco to get some things I needed, driving without news on. And saying Ho’Oponopono to myself under my mask as I was walking thru the store.
My point in all of this is that we have a choice in any situation. We are never a victim. We can always choose how we want to experience something, even if we can’t do anything about the situation itself. Be with our emotions, do what we have to to in the moment. Then consciously choose how to proceed.
Positivity isn’t about putting your head in the sand, pretending something bad isn’t happening. It’s caring for what needs to be cared for, then consciously choosing the high road. If we want to experience peace, choose peace. If we want to experience fear and anger, choose that. Although it’s very empowering to
“Be the peace you want to see in the world” – Ghandi
🌺 Love, Juliana