When we’re stressed, hormones like cortisol flood our systems, producing the ‘fight flight or freeze response’ in which our heart rate goes up, we breathe more heavily and our blood vessels constrict. We don’t always have a choice when it comes to getting stressed, so we may as well work on undoing its effects. With that in mind, this photo has a few ways, backed up by scientific evidence, to keep our stress in check. 🦋
Yes there is fear.
Yes there is isolation.
Yes there is panic buying.
Yes there is sickness.
Yes there is even death.
But,
They say that in Wuhan after so many years of noise you can hear the birds again.
They say that after just a few weeks of quiet the sky is no longer thick with fumes but blue and grey and clear.
They say that in the streets of Assisi people are singing to each other across the empty squares,keeping their windows open so that those who are alone may hear the sounds of family around them.
They say that a hotel in the West of Ireland is offering free meals and delivery to the housebound.
Today a young woman I know is busy spreading fliers with her number through the neighbourhood so that the elders may have someone to call on.
Today Churches, Synagogues, Mosques and Temples are preparing to welcome and shelter the homeless, the sick, the weary
All over the world people are slowing down and reflecting.
All over the world people are looking at their neighbours in a new way.
All over the world people are waking up to a new reality, to how big we really are, how little control we really have and to what really matters.
To Love.
So we pray and we remember that yes there is fear. But there does not have to be hate.
Yes there is isolation. But there does not have to be loneliness.
Yes there is panic buying. But there does not have to be meanness.
Yes there is sickness. But there does not have to be disease of the soul
Yes there is even death. But there can always be a rebirth of love.
Wake to the choices you make as to how to live now.
Today, breathe.
Listen, behind the factory noises of your panic.
The birds are singing again
The sky is clearing,
Spring is coming,
And we are always encompassed by Love.
Open the windows of your soul and though you may not be able to touch across the empty square,
Sing.
~ Richard Hendrick (Brother Richard) in Ireland
March 13th 2020
Resonant breathing, also called coherent breathing, can help us calm our anxiety, stress, overwhelm, and help us to get into a more relaxed state.
Deep breathing increases the supply of oxygen to our brain and stimulates the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes a state of calmness.
I personally use and recommend to my clients the 4-7-8 breathing technique, that focuses on the following breathing pattern:
* empty the lungs of air.
* breathe in quietly through the nose for 4 seconds.
* hold the breath for a count of 7 seconds.
* exhale forcefully through the mouth, pursing the lips and making a “whoosh” sound, for 8 seconds.
* repeat the cycle up to 2-4 times.
I promise you that when you do this correctly, it will greatly reduce your anxiety, stress or overwhelm. 🦋
‘Pragmatic Optimism’ is knowing that everything will be ok while we follow the recommendations made by authorities, showing good citizenship, being socially responsible and staying at home. 🦋
And the people stayed home.
And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still.
And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently. And the people healed.
And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.
And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.
~ Kitty O’Meara
Coach Judit
Everything is going to be alright. Intuitively, we know this. We also know that we are strong, powerful and resilient.
Globally, we know that the pandemic will flatten, the dust will settle and we will return to normal, a slightly altered normal but normal nevertheless.
Let us remember…
That cool heads prevail, to discern the facts from the drama. To be informed but to stop news binging. To talk ourselves down from our anxiety by disproving our fear based inner dialogue with actual facts.
And …
To breath deeply, to reduce our anxiety quickly and naturally.
To journal about our thoughts and feelings with pen and paper.
Review our options.
To think creatively.
Act responsibly, follow the rules laid out by our government and medical officials.
Focus our attention on daily random acts of kindness, ours and others.
Fear is normal, leverage it, get proactive, creative and productive.
Also …
Clean, organize and purge your home, car, office, electronic files ….
Start that creative project you’ve been thinking about.
Learn something new, read watch a documentary or e-learning …
Go for walks in the park. Play with your children. Jog. Meditate. Workout …
Reach out with a helping hand to the vulnerable and frail in your community.
Mend those fences, forgive and make peace.
Watch or listen to comedy! Dance! Listen to nature sounds, meditative music and your favourite bands, musicians.
Engage …
This is our time to govern our thoughts and feelings, open our heart and reach out to others with a helping hand and kindness.
If there was ever a time to have an immersive self-empowerment experience it’s now. Consciously, let us embody our authentic power and move forward with our innate creative power.
You are not alone, we are in this crisis together …
If you have positive, empowering, proactive, or pragmatic thoughts and recommendations to share, please comment below. 🦋
How might your life be different if you decided to stop tolerating or suffering your own thoughts, void of clarity, confidence and courage.
How would your life be different if you dared yourself to move out of your comfort zone, tackled your fears and gave your self permission to live a more authentic version of whom you are?
Mmmm, imagine the joy, freedom, expansiveness, passion, aliveness, you would feel if you dared yourself to experience the life which is in your heart.
What are three things you can do today to start moving in the direction of your dreams? 🦋
