Finding calm amidst chaos

This piece for all those that need a little help being fearless in a time of adversity.

Whether you have always suffered from anxiety or it is new to you, many of us are feeling a heightened sense of panic at the moment.

The truth is, when the world is going slightly mad and experiencing a pandemic, there is very little we can control. I am not naive, I know what is happening and I know the impact but I do believe that despite this, there are only two things we can really control at any point- our attitude and our effort.I want to ask you to take a moment to take in what I am saying. Take a moment to not dismiss it but just give my suggestions a try. I want to help and try and turn these negatives into a different perspective. 

Sure a different perspective won’t cure a virus but it will bring you a sense of calm.

If you have a fear of scarcity…

Turn your fear of scarcity into thoughts of abundance and gratitude for what you already have. I’m not talking that stash of toilet paper (though sure be grateful for that too) but I’m talking about the relationships you have, the house you live in to be able to isolate, the technology which allows us to stay close to the ones we love when we can’t physically be close to them. Think about ways you can use this positively, think of thoughts of growth and abundance rather than loss and you will see that this will manifest through to your life. Live in fear and fear will control you, live with the view of loss and you will bring loss to your life.

If you have a hard time feeling calm...

Turn the sense of chaos to a sense of calm. Do things that bring you peace - stop scrolling (once you finish this blog piece) and do something that brings you joy. Facetime the family, play with your puppy, hang with the housemates, read, meditate, do headstands, bake, sing, write, have sex, do yoga, rearrange your living room… I don’t know what your calm is but use this time to find it. Even if these activities just distract you for a minute, an hour or a day - that is more than you had before.

If you have a fear of what to do next…

Take this time whether it’s social isolation or complete lock down and use it as an opportunity to grow, to learn and to develop. We still have access to unlimited resources online, that is one positive which will not change. So when this blows over, which it will because we will believe it will, you can go back to work and use that new course you took to step up, when you go back to nightclubs you can show dem new dance moves or when you catch up with friends/family or that tinder date you can spoil them with your new found knowledge on the solar system.

If you are feeling irritated and frustrated…

Turn that negativity, that irritation into compassion and understanding. Whether you’re one of the people hoarding supplies wearing a mask and shaking your head at the ignorance of those doing less or you’re one of those doing less shaking your head at those buying every rice packet in Woolies - this is not the time to have anything but love towards those around us. Easier said than done but understand this one thing we are all in this together and we are all going to be impacted in one way or another. Every industry and every individual is going to hurt, all we have is each other.

If you have compromised your movement routine...

A time of chaos is not the time to stop moving, in fact it is more important to move in a time of crisis more than ever. To put it simply - exercise will help reduce your cortisol and will produce endorphins helping you to calm the f*ck down. Whether it’s getting steps in or body weight exercises or even adapting to using alternate equipment - just do it ;)

If you are struggling to keep calm...

Did you know that when stressed, the immune system’s ability to fight off antigens is reduced? The stress hormone actually suppresses the effectiveness of the immune system and makes us more likely to contract infections. Stress also makes us more likely to resort to things we would normally have more willpower to resist whether it’s that smoking habit, binge drinking or binge eating - which again - leads to a lower immune system.

If you are overwhelmed by everything you are hearing…

A short and simple one. Tune out of the BS you are hearing and tune into the real facts. When there is panic around everyone becomes an expert but do yourself a favour and stop listening to what you heard from your barber or your barista because it’s probably just something they heard from their barber and their barista. Listen to the truth and remember the media isn’t always the source of truth.

So that’s all I have got… like I said these facts may not cure a virus but they can (even temporarily) cure a negative mindset. Remember we were born to live and not just survive, so despite the crazy going on in the world... keep on living.

Stay safe, stay positive and stay sanitised (thanks mum!)

Love,

MDW