Ways To Nurture Yourself As We Co-Create The New World

Lately my introverted self has needed extra quiet, extra down time, and simultaneously, extra order; cleaning out closets, cupboards, the pantry- anything to bring order to the chaos I feel in the world and in my nervous system.
 
I’m a hermit by nature, you’d think I’d love this pause. But I value and love my freedom most and do not like it restricted at all. That being said, I'm getting much better at acceptance (see #11 below).
 
Ultimately do I think things will work out for the best?
Absolutely. 
Do I have a positive vision for the future? 
Totally.
Do I know this is the growing pains of a new world? 
Completely. 
 
I also know- we all chose to be born for this: this monumental time in history where we are writing a new script: initiating new ways of being, rising to new levels of consciousness. It hasn’t been done before, thus no Mayan calendar, no predictions; it’s new. And together we are creating it. Exciting? Very. And sometimes not so fun to go through with all the necessary destruction of what we know, both good and bad, to make way for the new. 
 
It’s not about the virus- it’s about clearing out the old. Giving the earth a much needed reprieve. Re-setting priorities. Shifting our relationships with each other and the world. Can we do that? Yes. Can it be elegant? I sure hope so. I don’t want a new reality of extreme caution, limited mobility, and staying away from each other. That to me would be a nightmare. If you believe in past lives, we chose the nightmare in Atlantis and it was destroyed. We don’t need to create that again. 
 
So together, let’s dream this new world the way we want it to be: people communicating respectfully and engaging in dialogue versus dogma. The end of racism and vast economic disparity. People honoring Mother Earth by being conscious of their impact with more recycling, the oceans being cleaned up, and forests being expanded versus destroyed. Women being respected and treated as equals, the end of fathers forcing their daughters into marriage at an early age, and readily accessible education for all children. These are just some of my dreams for the world, I have many!
 
And in the meantime, if some days are super rough because you feel all the intensity and chaos acutely, then disconnect and do something nurturing to heal. Here are some of the things that work best for me, hopefully they inspire you! 
 
1: Grounding myself. Yes that’s my normal anyway, but when I’m spinning, if I can ground and connect deeply to the planet, I can breathe again. 
 
2: Speaking of breathing- deep belly breaths. Deep, in your abdomen, full breaths. It calms the nervous system.
 
3: Being in the moment. Not in the future or the past. Looking around and noticing present time and really taking it in.
 
4: Solitude. Turning off the phone and just disconnecting from the world. 
 
5: Epsom Salt Baths. They’re a godsend to clear your space and calm your system. 
 
6: Appreciation. Being in appreciation is key to raising your energy. Plus it feels so good to focus on what you appreciate. 
I have a guided meditation from a previous blog here if you want to be in that energy more.
 
7: Being creative. In whatever form it takes: coloring, cooking, gardening, even re-organizing your closet can be creative. The possibilities are endless.
 
8: Going on walks. It’s been imperative to be outside and be in nature.
 
9: Reading a book. I’m doing very limited social media, very limited news, not even binging much TV. Reading can be very calming.
 
10: Chanting. The word “Om” really calms your system when you’re overloaded. 
 
11: Surrender and Patience. Perhaps the most difficult but I remind myself that I can’t control this. I can’t fight it either, although sometimes I do. And when I do, I release my frustrations in healthy ways without judgment, so that ultimately I can accept it and allow it to teach me what I most need. It's necessary to surrender my need for answers and outcomes and have patience with what is. There's tremendous power in the unknown; some days I simply need to remind myself that. After all, it’s not about me. It’s not about you. It’s about creating a new world and that takes time.
 
 
We’re all in this together and together we’re going succeed this time. Let’s choose that now!
 
As Chani Nicholas says, “You were born for this!”