For the tricky moments… There is no doubt that we are living in challenging times, some difficulties are visible and some less so. It’s easy to forget that there are supports that can help us, even for a moment here and there. We can so easily stay stuck and think there is really nothing I can do. Feeling totally helpless is damaging psychologically. Here are some steps to reduce the impact of this. Step 1. The first step is to pause, and say to ourselves in a warm voice, just as we would to a friend who is struggling, “This is a moment of stress, this is hard, this is a struggle.”. Rather than thinking about it, seeing how it is to allow yourself to feel the tension in the body thats created by this stress. Pause, and breathe. Sometimes we dismiss this step as we may think, other people are suffering much more than I am…… “stop grumbling” and so on. This dismissal of what you are experiencing, is a dismissal of yourself and in the long run, does not serve us well. Step 2. I am not alone with finding this difficult, many people in all sorts of ways are also struggling just like me, this is part of being human and alive. Step 3. Now actively bringing some compassion to yourself, to this human being who is living through a pandemic,… maybe some words such as “I am doing the best I can. I am not perfect and I make mistakes just as everyone does.”. “I’m okay. I’m okay”. “There is nothing wrong with me. This is normal”. Pause, and breathe. Step 4. Asking the question “What do I need right now to help me through this?”. Maybe taking 6 minutes to follow a guided practice like the one above, a short walk, or some contact with a friend whom I can be myself with. Or perhaps this pausing in itself might be sufficient for now. |