Historic floods and wildfires, political fights and economic wars–Oh yes, and a new Covid Variant. If your eye is trained on the external environment, there’s plenty to stress about. Yet, you have a choice. You can cave to it or pause and take some time to lift your true spirit. It’s easier than you think and feelings are contagious (according to research). Yes, original child-like joy lives beneath the layers of human experience. You’ll be spreading a feeling of joy without even thinking about it even in the midst of chaos!
Time and time again, I’ve seen the human spirit rise above the muck rather than getting stuck in it. I remember a woman sharing with me the story of losing her adolescent son in a car accident. She described her life afterwards as a dark, desolate forest that had been destroyed by wildfire. And then one spring, much to her surprise and without her permission, little tufts of green growth began to peek out of the dark and barren forest floor, and she began growing a new life. Similarly, your nature is inherently resilient even when you’re not feeling it. Your body and spirit are inherently driven to survive and thrive; similar to all of nature.
Where can you find resilience? Jill Bolte Taylor is a neuroscientist who suffered a stroke in her left hemisphere that disabled her executive functions. In her book “My Stroke of Insight,” she describes that as her ability to function deteriorated, she began sensing a profound connection with the Universe that brought feelings of peace, love and joy. This inner ecstasy was so powerful, she was tempted to lie down and enjoy it. Yet, she knew she had to seek help or die. Her mind eventually was able to dial the phone and babble in a way that brought help—she survived. She now shares her message that feelings of love and joy are found in our right creative brain not through thinking. When we overthink things, our mind chatter gets overwhelming in a downward spiral and we lose hope… but our deepest spiritual self is distinct from that. Deep within our body intelligence, we know the truth about the resilience that connects us with all of life!
The following list offers 5 easy ways to activate your creative, emotional brain and the release of feel-good hormones for an immediate uptick in your mood… and they are grounded in neuroscience; thus, they work every time you use them!
Here Are 5 Ways To Lift Your Mood When So Much Seems To Be Going On:
1. Close your eyes and call up an image of someone for whom you are grateful…
Take a moment to immerse yourself in the feeling of receiving what they bring you… stay with it until you feel a little teary…(Gratitude)
2. Take a moment to find the awe and wonder in your day…
Looking up at the night sky is an easy one… enjoy the view imaging all the stars and galaxies above that share space with you… stay with it until you feel the awe in your body…
3. Put on uplifting music or a movie and become present to really hearing and seeing it…
Sense your mood on 1-10 scale before and after to notice the results
4. Take some time to be in nature
Whether it’s a walk or an outing to a park… Amazingly, science shows that the chemicals produced by trees and plants can have a healing effect and it feels clean and soothing… ‘Forest Bathing’ is a real treat in Japan and is prescribed for healing…
5. Read a guided RIM experience
Read the following RIM experience aloud to yourself and notice your spirit lifting… Read it a few times, savoring every word like a special, delicious treat…
‘Finding Myself Amidst the Chaos’
RIM Experience
I close my eyes and taking a cleansing breath, I inhale through my nose and exhale through my mouth. I take another deep breath and in exhaling, I let my shoulders sink toward the earth and settle into greater relaxation. How easy it is to nestle into myself as I release any need to be “somebody” or to “achieve something.” I am merely me, a body and spirit surviving in a world of many distractions and diversions.
Setting aside all else, I claim this time, and dive into the depths of my authentic self. The descent is easy and natural as I shed any pretense of being a particular way. I am what I am, I feel what I feel, I welcome it all and trust the process of being natural.
Settling into my center, I allow the feelings to flow–like turning the faucet and letting the waters of life wash away the residue of living. Sadness, joy, anger, rage, jealousy, happiness–whatever comes rises to the surface and is embraced as a fleeting taste of life. Each drop falls as a testament to being alive, to having the human capacity to feel, and to having the spiritual capacity to see beyond it.
All else is unimportant at this moment. I am absorbed with the totality of who I really am. I awaken to the diverse continuum of my feelings–joy and sadness–laughter and tears–fear and courage. It is all me and it is not me. It is life itself flowing through me with seasons and transitions. With ups and downs. With beauty and ugliness. I welcome it all, and resistance melts away. With this disintegration, space is created. Open space, empty space. Profound space to be Me.
I am as vast as the Universe and as deep as the ocean. My capacity to experience life is pure and vital. Experiencing it all, I sense the truth of my nature. One with the one, I am imbued with powers to create, to heal, to transform. How could I have forgotten something so important? How could I have given up my nature to pretend I’m nothing more than my body? I let the questions pass and embrace the essence. Like all of creation, I too am magically imprinted with the capacity for miracles.
I am the soul who sought to be born in this specific body at this specific time. I am the energy of itself burning like a star emitting a light for all to see. I am the unique being who walks this planet with my special purpose.
I am Me… with all my foibles … and all my talents!
I am Me… a divine spirit inhabiting a human body…
I am mortal… I am eternal… I am a miracle!
And so it is!
With Gratitude for You,
Dr. Deb
For more than 40 years, Award Winning and Best-Selling Author & Psychotherapist Dr. Deb Sandella has helped thousands heal trauma, move through grief and gain access to more laughter, greater financial success, and deeper, more loving relationships. This former university professor developed the RIM® (Regenerating Images in Memory) Method that alleviates suffering and supports you to claim the happier, healthier life you deserve. RIM® is used by therapists, coaches, organizational consultants and school social workers globally and has helped countless individuals transform past trauma for a more fulfilled life. She frequently brings her teachings to Jack Canfield’s events.
Learn How to Zap Stuck Feelings Fast With Dr. Deb
