Sometimes the world feels out of control.
Your personal world. The lives of those around you. Your country. The ecosystem. When so much happens around you, a sense of powerless arises. Even when you identify actions to take or ways to help others, the muchness of this sorrowful world can get to you. Making it a challenge to navigate your days.
It’s helpful to remember that all worldly transformation begins within.
And that you have the power to generate the healing energy of compassion and wise, peaceful solutions.
If you have a personal practice of meditation, prayer or devotion, you know the comfort and potential when you plug into that which is greater than you. Your body breathes more freely, your wild emotions settle, and your mind calms a bit.
This settling opens a door within your heart where you realize this “something greater than you” is also within you. Intimately accessible.
In that moment, you remember that you are not alone. You are a part of this immense web of energy. Intimately connected. This greatness, however defined, offers refuge from the storm within which rages in response to the overwhelming news of your/the world.
How do you get there?
Turn off the television and take a break from the news that streams through your phone. Breathe a bit and take a walk. The world will still turn without your witness and upset.
Reflect upon what brings you back to center.
Explore what you’re already doing, a spiritual practice you’d like to resurrect, or a new venture into a type of meditation that feels right for you. No judgement or great goal setting here. Just ask the wisdom within what might be helpful for you now.
There is comfort in meditation, centered prayer, and sacred ritual.
Research points to the benefits these activities have for wellbeing, improved health, social connection, and positive mood.
Yet it doesn’t descend like manna from heaven.
It’s up to you to head in the direction of peace, healing, and clarity. It helps to bring attention to breath and focus strongly upon your intention to feel peace. When it’s hard to do this on your own, especially when unable to regulate your upset, joining with others enhances the potential of calm connection.
Using the group as a springboard to an organized, calm energy state makes sense.
Group devotion or a focus upon peace is contagious. Just like fear, hatred, and division. The good news is that you’re in charge of what you “catch.” The media thrives on creating fear.
Bad news sells. Good vibes calm. Your choice.
