Finding Joy and Meaning in a Chaotic World…
The”pandemic”, itself an unprecedented domestic crisis, has ignited a number of secondary crises, among these are the long-term effects that social/physical distancing will have on the economy and our overall financial stability is hard to put into numbers.
Yet, the thing that comes to mind for me is harder to quantify: the mental health impact of the pandemic. Fear and dread courses through news broadcasts and social feeds. What may indeed be our “new normal” is something like we have never seen and will have an effect on our sanity.
That’s exactly why it’s more vital than ever that we lean into our communities — both real-world and digital — and dig for the two things I believe we’ll need: Joy and Love.
Be with what ails you. Maybe it’s fear. Perhaps it’s sadness from not being able to touch or be around your loved ones. Feel those things. Pay attention to your emotions, but don’t hold onto them in a way that they stay with you. It requires healthy detachment — the idea that you can sit with things, see them for what they are, and not be attached to them being any other way, or connect those feelings to yourself. Embrace and let it out.
Find the magic in everything. Whether it’s watching the steam from your cup of tea, or watching DJ’s (like myself) rocking Instagram through a live dance party, it’s crucial that we actively seek out joy. We
have to go out of our way to look at the wind that moves the trees differently. There is magic everywhere. We have to soak in the things that bring joy into our lives. For me, it’s doing something creative and engaging everyday – whether it be a call/text with one of my favourite people, researching matters that are of highest value, sometimes it looks like detaching from social media and letting loose allowing time for rest, mindless, nothingness. But most often I’ll be listening to music or curled up with my pupper, little miss Annie Mac, or laying on my Bio-mat.
Once you find the magic, share it. I sometimes share my research and findings being in health and wellness on Instagram. I value safety and privacy more than anything else, but I also see how much light and love everyone has been sharing across the globe digitally and I want the community to also share in that joy. The more you outwardly express and share those things with the world, the more you have to give. It’s called living with a spirit of abundance. It’s not about how much money you make, but how much love you can offer. Things feel bleak right now, and some of us have felt forced to hoard whatever we can. But the more we can share our love, the more there will be to go around for those who may need it the most.
Embrace community. I have been on more calls during this time than usual. A need to feel belonging is not uncommon in times of crisis. We must lean into our virtual resources. So many people are sharing their “expertise” and providing alternatives to our everyday “luxuries” at no cost!
Find the things that make you happy (and do them.) Your gym closing doesn’t mean you can’t get inventive with how you work out. Youtube and Instagram have so many online workouts. Some have resorted to cooking and sharing recipes. Others are hosting virtual yoga classes and mediation sessions. Take what brings you joy on any typical day and lean into those things while staying at home. If that means dancing in your room naked to your favourite music (vocal House music does it for me), do that. Streaming every single show and movie you didn’t get around to in 2019, do that. If it means writing letters to everyone you love, go right ahead. Perhaps it’s more meditation, taking a digital fast, or not watching the news. Maybe it’s going through old notebooks and photo albums. Don’t be ashamed to love up on the things that bring you joy.
“Sometimes self care is exercise and eating right. Sometimes it’s spending time with loved ones or taking a nap. And sometimes it’s watching an entire season of TV in one weekend while you lounge around in your pajamas. Whatever soothes your soul.”
Maybe some of these anecdotes will not apply to you. Perhaps you are deep in the trenches of taking care of an elderly friend or family member, or dealing with your fears of being locked down that you can’t sit with making room for love at this moment. That’s fine, too. We’ve been in such a panic mode that it has become increasingly difficult for us to sit still and pay attention to what we need to feed ourselves (besides our cravings).
Now is the time for you to do all the things or do nothing at all. Whatever you decide to do, try to find your sense of peace within it. And most of all, we must respect the different frequencies, neither are right or wrong.
If you need guidance or assistance with stress management or anxiety strategies, reach out today:
Tomorrow starts today…