I woke to, what continuously seems like, a rapidly changing
world. Continued news stories about the Coronavirus, just growing more
depressing. In normal times, our lives get going on a role, they sort of fall
into an automatic pattern of activities. The general pattern evolves; then, our
brains anticipate and build onto that framework as we add new things. We
generally feel in control, that pattern gives us an inner sense of order.
Ever wonder why even positive changes like a marriage or
moving into a new home are high on the stress scale? The general pattern of our
brain activity is disrupted; we are not on automatic anymore and we feel less a
sense of inner order. Things like this disease making changes in what we’ve
come to depend on, further disrupts our inner sense of order. And some of those
changes are not even chosen, but forced on us, a rare situation in modern
American lives; it’s something we are unused to. Then, in this case, add the
chemicals of fear to the mix of an already disrupted inner order. This may
result in a constant low lying concern for some or a feeling of almost terror
for others.
There are a lot of neurologically explainable reasons why
some people get hit harder than others when the disruption of inner order
occurs and why the chemicals of fear are felt more intensely by some. It
doesn’t matter, though, how people are responding is how they are responding.
Judging them removes you further from being a calming force in their lives and
increases your own feeling of inner disorder or chaos. Sitting in a state of
judgement is not a healthy way for us to restore our own inner order.
What to do, what to do? Well, we can begin by attempting to
spend some time focusing our minds, concentrating. If you practice yoga, tai chi or enjoy jumping
around in your living room to Beach Body workouts, this is the time to spend
some time doing that. If you enjoy Sudoku, or crossword puzzles or, yes, you
can admit it, even jig saw puzzles, force yourself to find some time to sit and
put your brain to work on a very order creating activity. Two things are
happening to make you feel better, first, your brain is experiencing a familiar
pattern and second you are being forced to concentrate. These activities move
your brain away from the overwhelmed “thinking” left hemisphere and into the
creative, big picture thinking, right hemisphere. If you have learned and
regularly practice a formal “concentrating” routine, like NeuroTherapy
Training, you’ll be handling things better. If you’ve learned a method of
concentration and shifting your brain but have stopped practicing it, this is
the time to reintroduce it into your daily activities. YOU’VE GOT TO HELP YOUR
BRAIN by calming the chemicals of fear and moving away from the chaotic
overwhelmed left hemisphere.
Here’s another idea for calming us physically and
emotionally - take a glorious hot bath. Dig out those fizzy bath balls, light a
candle or two, make your favorite tea to have within reach. Part of what is
accelerating your discomfort is physical stress. Relax those muscles in that
warm water and some of the feeling of inner chaos will mechanically diminish.
And, the aromatherapy of your favorite bath accoutrements and familiar scent of
the soothing tea will both help bring some order back to your brain
Those of you with an artistic bent, dig out some paints and
make a personal hand painted card to send to someone you care about or if you
love to sew, turn on that machine and dig into that fabric stash and make a
throw pillow or a cat toy or something simple and fun, and possibly something
that you can use to brighten someone else’s day. It’s the same with you who
find pleasure in the art of cooking. Go stand in your kitchen, (do the dishes
if they are in the sink, that will help restore your inner sense of order as
well) then get creative, call up your favorite recipe and start organizing the
ingredients needed, the activity is like putting together that jig saw puzzle.
Or maybe just dig out that cake mix that has been languishing in the back of
your pantry and make it. Let yourself and your family indulge cutting off
chunks and eating it without frosting. Or
get carried away and make that Teddy Bear cake you’ve been planning to try ever
since you bought that pan at the yard sale. Art and the art of cooking force
our brains away from the chaotic, worried left hemisphere and focus our minds.
They also produce things that can be shared with others not doing as well as
you may be with the disruption of inner chaos.
Whatever you do today, add something that calms your brain
and helps you restore that inner sense of order. And, if you can, reach out to
someone in a positive way, even if only by phone or internet, who may not be
handling things as well as you are. Offer them conversation, or if they are
near, one of your fizzy bath balls, that cat toy or hand painted card or maybe
sit down with them over a cup of your favorite tea and discuss something that
makes both of you feel good.
No comments:
Post a Comment