I find myself struggling, sometimes, to maintain the space for kindness and compassion required to live the life I want to live. I can feel overwhelmed by events of the world around me…it doesn’t take much. A few minutes of news or social media is often enough to send a person running for cover. And if you are already sensitive or carrying trauma from previous experiences, the sense of overwhelm that leads to anxiety, fear, anger and hatred can be difficult to overcome.
On the wall in front of my desk, on sticky notes around my computer, on the cover of journals, I keep around me things that inspire me: Short quotes, longer poems, beautiful pictures, fond memories. My vision board holds a prominent place on a gold rimmed frame above my monitor, a reminder of who I am meant to be.
And in my bedroom, in a ornate gilded frame, is a copy of my most favorite poem ever: Desiderata. I don’t know when I first discovered it; all I know is that it has always been part of me. It is where I go to regain my solace in times of uncertainty.
Such sacred works of art are reminders of how powerful words can be…how powerful images can be; and they can affect us in both positive and negative ways, if we allow them.
Surround yourself with beautiful things, things that make you smile without effort and make your heart sing a little vibrato only you can hear. Their frequency is like a tuning fork, guiding you gently into the space of Love and Joy, Kindness and Compassion.
Listen to beautiful music and take time to sit in silence. Open yourself to that quiet space and all the discoveries it holds.
Master Chunyi Lin, creator of Spring Forest Qigong, teaches simple ways to find peace amidst chaos: Smiling and Breathing. (It is practically impossible to smile without taking a breath, or to breathe without breaking a smile. Try it!) A smile, he says, stands for Start My Internal Love Engine. And breath as we all know, is Life.
One of the best techniques to escape overwhelm is to look up, smile, breathe, and allow the peace to find you. Even if you aren’t surrounded by beauty at that moment, you might just find beauty in your surroundings that you hadn’t seen before.
As always, thank you for allowing me to be part of your healing journey. Love, Audrey
