With my idea to develop a companion workbook for my novel, Bridges of Resilience: A Teenage Journey of Friendship, Courage, and Discovery, I’ve been engrossed in learning something new and experimenting with the results. It has been a challenge to one who is not very tech savvy, but Nina’s Five Simple Ways to Beat Stress and Anxiety is finally soon to be published on Amazon in paperback. No longer engaged in the stress of learning new approaches daily and throwing out approaches that do not work, I found a previous blog I wrote just after the worst of the pandemic and during the invasion of Ukraine by Russia. It reminded me of the constant cycle of stress we encounter in our personal lives as well as citizens of the world. I’d like to share updated portions of it with you here.
Today we still are in international crises (wars, climate change, extreme poverty). Additionally, we may have concerns about the unknown results of the U.S. Presidential election. How do we calm our tension and feelings of inadequacy in a world going mad? Thich Nhat Hahn, a Buddhist monk and influential philosopher and writer eloquently described our need for mindfulness, the exquisite awareness of where we are in the present moment. This is what we can notice and be impactful about.
How is our breath? Are we breathing at the very top of our lungs as we remain tense, or is it possible to deepen the breath so that we begin to fill our lungs all the way down to our bellies, filling that area, and then emptying our lungs from the top of our lungs, and finally squeezing our bellies in to clear the lungs? Do we notice how this deeper breathing allows our shoulders to relax downward and even lets our facial muscles relax? Can we even let a soft smile raise the corners of our mouths slightly? Can we focus on how it feels to love the moment and the world around us as we breathe?
As we walk, do we notice that our feet connect to the ground from the heel to the sole and then to the toes? As Thich Nhat Hahn suggested, “Walk as if you are kissing the Earth with your feet.” Our feet connect to the powerful energy of the earth and the bottoms of our feet have many acupressure points that stimulate our entire body systems. Energy medicine practices also acknowledge the energy from the sky or heavens and include a daily focus on long stretching with the head erect, reaching arms up to greet the energy of the heavens.
Is our environment unchanging or is it organically growing and changing daily? Notice the light. The daily light is decreasing naturally now as the northern hemisphere moves into Fall and the days grow shorter.
Are the sounds the same? The crows are calling in the tall trees and flocks of geese are beginning to move about before their long migrations. Mornings are full of the sounds of parents dropping off children at school and children rejoicing outside after their school days are completed. What do you hear? How is the temperature different from the day before? What do you see? Are there clouds or blue sky? Is the grass greening again after the summer drought or is it parched or muddy? Are the leaves on trees and shrubs beginning to change color or drop?
We need to nourish and hydrate ourselves, particularly in stressful times. Being mindful begs the following questions: How does it feel to take that first long drink of cool water in the morning? Does it clear your throat, wake you up, rinse your mouth, soften dry lips? Does your warm coffee or hot tea help you warm up and plan your day? How do your first few bites of food impact you? Crunchy, bland, filling, tasty? Is it a privilege to be able to go to the kitchen and find something clean and healthy to eat?
What do you choose to touch? Is your clothing soft and flowing? Constrictive, rough, textured, warm, colorful? Do you hug your family members? What does this feel like? Warm, stilted, rushed? Do you caress your pets?
We can choose to notice our lives and their blessings, to live peacefully and with appreciation. We can share and demonstrate that peaceful energy with the world by releasing the angst of dwelling on the horror of those things we do not choose and often cannot control. Energy healers such as Chunying Li of Spring Forest Qigong encourage us to feel love in our hearts as we move and breathe mindfully as a means of impacting peace and healing in the world at large, not just in our own bodies. May you find peace this day and bring peaceful energy to the world!
Love and blessings,
Suanne