Every day we see the headlines and read the newsfeed – the latest Corona surge is running amuck; the most recent mass shooting is worse than the previous assault weapon massacre; climate change has increased storms and caused long-term weather patterns to be unpredictable; racism is overt and crushing.  Waking up in the morning itself has become an anxiety trigger because we never know what to expect, but we do anticipate disaster.

Mental Health is being talked about, but not really being addressed, as funding for programs has steadily decreased.  The number of people who don’t have homes, in which to live, grows daily.  Fentanyl continues to kill people throughout the country.  Voting rights get swept away while politicians who are supposed to be fixing these problems are mostly standing on the sidelines focused solely on getting re-elected.

When inundated with all the above, we can become anxious, overwhelmed, and dysregulated. Dysregulated means feeling like a train is running off the tracks inside your body.  We need to find ways to ground ourselves.

Uncertainty is the theme of the hour, almost every hour.  How do we transform this uncertainty into safety?  What does safety mean now?

A state of safety is achieved when worry is off in the distance or non-existent.  Focusing on today’s upheaval will not bring us to this state.  We can choose to not dwell on today’s Corona numbers at all or take one step to promote positive change such as sending money to politicians who you believe will help control the virus.  Taking action is one of the steps of obtaining a sense of safety.

Taking action can mean walking in a picket line to support abortion rights.  It could be working at a phone bank to advocate for mental health funding or pushing for a candidate who truly believes in democracy.  Doing something to stand up against policies that restrict voting rights is taking action.

Safety could be found while focusing on the present.  Dwelling on the past or worrying about the future is the antithesis of focusing on the present.  You can focus on interesting aspects of your job.  You can be present while being creative.  Writing poetry, playing a musical instrument and painting are some examples of being creative.  

Flipping negative thoughts to positive ones is another means of finding safety.  Replace the thought of “I’m worried about being isolated from others” to “I’m looking forward to discovering new ways of how I can connect with others.”  And changing “I feel overwhelmed by watching the news” to “I see new opportunities to develop in this time of uncertainty” could also bring a sense of safety.

Being thankful for what you’ve got (to quote William DeVaughn), is a mantra to repeat often throughout the day.  This can help you feel grateful for all the goodness you do experience.

Make sure you hug loved ones often because we are going through a period of time where love is needed more than ever.

Physical exercise lifts the spirit and helps us stand in our own power.  It calms us and provides us with a sense of accomplishment.

I shall leave you with the wise words of Michael Franti to lift you:

“You know today would be a very good day just to have a good day

You know today would be a very good day just to have a good day

With a little more love and a little more laughter

A little more good vibes, less disaster

You know today would be a very good day just to have a good day

All day long”