Living in the world at large is extremely stressful right now.

The lingering presence of COVID, a terrible war with more refugees flooding into Europe, material shortages, and escalating prices. Your personal world of health, family, work, friends, and communities may also be experiencing significant challenges. This beautiful planet is in distress with continued consumption and destruction by humans creating a global crisis that will affect all life now and in the future.

My friend in Vienna sent me this photo of his local train station. “Give peace a chance.”

Austria has a “Willkommenskultur” or welcoming culture for refugees. Many people from Europe have shown up at train stations in Poland and other countries with signs indicating they can house and feed Ukrainian refugees.

Yet many people in the United States and countries away from this region have expressed feelings of helplessness, fear, anger, and deep sorrow.

Research has shown that when in a crisis if someone has the opportunity to act and help others, there is less of a chance of a lingering post traumatic stress response. This is why so many are moved to donate money, create peace ceremonies, volunteer, or collect goods for displaced people.

In my research I learned of the stress created by donated goods in the midst of humanitarian crisis.

In situations such as the war in the Ukraine, the influx of clothing and supplies requires a great amount of organization, money, and volunteers. They need to manage incoming donations, sort goods, identify and pay for storage so supplies are not ruined by weather, and see what may be distributed. The statistics show that these needs not only take away a focus on flexible purchase, delivery, and distribution of items of need, but that 70% of these donations end up ruined and/or in landfills.

That in itself is heartbreaking. All that good intent ending up as a pollutant for our Mother Earth.

Taking some time to research options for helping or donating is wise in any situation whether it is a crisis or a long term need. Yet, the helplessness remains even if you are donating or reaching out to friends affected by global or personal crises.

It’s helpful to tune into your inner wisdom for guidance. Always beginning with a check on yourself.

If you’re experiencing significant upset, as many people are, I’d recommend turning off the news and soothing your system. Unless you are in a coherent state, you won’t be of much help to others or the world.

My Self Soothe Strategy is one of my Free Resources available on my website (click here).

The PlayBook explains the importance of working flexibly with your mindset and stress response system. The recording guides you through a heart focused Energy Psychology practice which resets your nervous system.

Your energy system is the foundational architecture of your “body.”

As such, it holds all fear, helplessness, and grief from past situations that were overwhelming at the time. There are many ways to soothe the system and help these stored disruptions clear out of the energy field and body.

Clearing the way to dream a new future for yourself, your communities, and the global family.

First, you have to check in to see where your focus lies. For wherever that is, you’ll be creating more of it.