There are times when life is chaotic and you’ve got endless demands tugging at you from all directions. When that happens, it’s so difficult to stay focused and centered! It doesn’t help that many people are feeling fear and anxiety these days and find themselves getting caught up in senseless drama – at home, at work, or online – and they try to drag you into it.
You might be stressed and overwhelmed if:
- you feel pressured to handle everything coming your way
- you’re rattled after looking at your social media feeds
- you fantasize about escaping to a remote retreat
- you want to hide from the world for the next several days… or years
You’re certainly right to feel that way. You’re human and if you’re anything like me, you’re also highly-sensitive to the energy around you. You also react strongly to any untimely demands made of you. And you probably feel deeply disappointed at the drama swirling around you.
Navigating these situations requires a good sense of who you are and what you need. It requires a sense of peace and serenity that you can only find within. An escape to the mall for some retail therapy and a mani-pedi can help you feel better. But if you can’t escape, or if you don’t know how to put yourself first, you’ll be easily thrown off balance. You’ll be sucked into other people’s drama. You’ll snap the next time someone crosses you. You’ll use social media to distract yourself. Then you’ll wonder why you feel angry, depleted, and hopeless about everything.
It doesn’t have to be this way. You can prioritize yourself and create space for greater ease and fulfillment. Here are four simple ways to do just that:
Connect to your heart to decide what’s true, what’s important, and what feels right to you. Tap into your source of joy within to maintain balance and peace. There’s nothing wrong with getting input and feedback from others, but use your filter to decide what actions you want to take, if any, and be grounded in that truth. Listen to your inner wisdom and let go of any opinions that don’t feel right to you… even those from well-meaning people.
Focus on the things that help you feel balanced. What feels good to you? It can be something simple, like sipping a cup of tea, reading a book, or going for a walk. Breathing exercises can do wonders. You’ll be amazed at how you feel when you consistently make time for yourself. And to ensure that you can spend the time with yourself, let go of any obligations that drain you or simply aren’t a priority right now. You’ll find that you feel happier and more energetic and better able to handle your life circumstances.
Choose to take the high road. Instead of being grumpy about your situation – which I’ve been at times, I’ll admit – you can take the high road instead. Connect to the power you have right now to add value and create positivity. Love is the only guarantee no matter what’s happening in your life. Showing compassion, speaking your truth, or walking away if you have to helps everyone, especially yourself. Things still may not go smoothly but you’ll create more calm in your life instead of more chaos.
Be flexible. Did you know that one of the biggest causes of stress is clinging to rigid expectations? It’s totally normal to feel annoyed and frustrated when circumstances don’t make sense or don’t go your way. With a flexible mindset, you release your attachment to the outcome. You’ll be able to deal with issues much more easily and find creative solutions. And if you choose to take action, you’ll operate from a proactive place instead of a reactive one.
Give yourself the gift of committing to yourself in a world that’s trying to distract you. Celebrate your enoughness no matter what. It’s much easier to attack others – and yourself – when life throws you curveballs. It’s also easy to feel like a victim and just curl up on the couch and do nothing. Sometimes that’s just what you need, but eventually you’ll need to rise up and face the challenges head on. And you can do that from a place of calm, centeredness, and renewed energy.
