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How to Meet Life’s Challenging Times
How to Stay in Truth Through Life’s Most Challenging Times
My family, neighbors, and friends were all touched by tragedy a few days ago. A dear friend and neighbor took his own life. We have knowledge that intense financial issues and perhaps some relationship issues created a state of mind and emotions that led him to conclude future happiness was hopeless for him.
The pressure and uncertainty that many people are feeling now, with rising prices and deflated real estate values, can become very challenging. People are experiencing depression, anxiety, and even hopelessness about what’s ahead. During challenging times, it is more important than ever to observe the things you are thinking and feeling. Sadness, depression, and anxiety are all emotional and mental states. While the states we experience affect how we feel at a given time, it is critically important to your health and well being to realize that these negative states are temporary experiences that can be changed. The thing that causes people to become desperate, when they are in one of these states, is the tendency for them to identify with the state of being they are experiencing.
How can I get on top of my negative emotions?
If you find yourself immersed in a negative emotional/mental state, try to sit quietly for a moment and observe, in a detached way, what you are feeling. Imagine yourself completely separate from what you are experiencing. If you are depressed, imagine the depression is upon you like a quiet rain. You experience all of the qualities of the rain falling upon you, but you are not the rain. Even as you experience the qualities you understand the rain is temporary - it will pass. The other thing you can do is to change the negative state to a more positive one. Using your own resources you can dramatically change what you are thinking and feeling, almost instantly. Here’s how:
Thoughts- After observing the negative emotion, without judging it, notice the thoughts that are rolling through your mind. Usually thoughts that support negative states are based on fear. Write down each of those thoughts, noticing the negativity and fear in them. Then right next to each one write down a positive thought which would completely negate the negative one you were previously thinking. Read the “positive” list several times.
Physiology- Stand up in your best posture and think about a time you felt empowered, happy, and safe. Stand in a way that exudes those positive feelings, put a big smile on your face (whether you feel like it or not) and move your body a bit in a way that feels positive, light, or powerful. You could dance around, skip through your hallway, or even go for a little jog. The body and mind are a constant feedback loop. What you do with your body chemically changes your mind.
Action- Forming a positive plan of action also creates good chemistry in your body and mind. Write down a short list of 3 to 5 things that you can do very soon to improve the situation you are challenged by. Try to do 1 or 2 of them right away. Immediately, do a short visualization of completing all of the steps. See yourself going through each of the steps now, even if some of them will be completed a day later or a week later.
Your journey through life will present both positive and negative experiences. Both provide opportunities to grow. Support yourself and the people you love, knowing that your presence in this life experience is what’s important — experiences will come and go, lessons will be learned, and life will always move forward.
Love and blessings,
Crystal
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