Finding Balance in a World on Tilt

A while back I wrote about the importance of turning work into play. Of course, all work and no play can lead to a very dull life, but it can also lead to stress and burnout. 

So how do we find a balance? This is especially important right now in our political climate, when we must work hard to preserve our democracy amid the fear and uncertainty that can wreak havoc with our sanity. 

As a US citizen, I have often taken my freedoms for granted, so the fact that many rights are on the line has turned my world upside down. Everywhere I look, be it social media, TV, conversations with friends, or the worry recesses of my brain, the subject of Trump comes up and the content is often distasteful. This constant barrage can wipe me out, so recharging my inner batteries becomes necessary. 

For me, it’s key to avoid accelerating to a speed beyond the limit, where I’m prone to miss crucial messages from my internal guidance system.
 
We all have this mechanism, but without connecting to the stillness within, we can miss the subtle whispers designed to keep us on the path toward our humanness, the place where we fulfill our purpose. I aim for the aware state that offers clarity, compassion, appreciation, and an ability to be guided by my higher self—or if you prefer, by God as he resides in my heart.

To experience peace and calm in a tumultuous world, we have to remember that everything is relative. Our situation is a far cry from what those in other countries have to deal with, like living in a war zone, surviving as a refugee, or existing under the restrictive thumb of a dictator. I can empathize, but in reality I can only imagine how difficult those situations would be.  As bad as it has been, life could be worse. 

When you have a lot to do or something weighs heavily on your mind, look for ways to stay in balance. When I’m writing, which is my work, and it ceases to be enjoyable, I take a break. If I have a deadline, I take a short break. I’ll take a walk, play with my dog, meditate, watch a movie, read a good book, or find some other distraction that will allow my creative juices to regenerate and reset the connection to my heart. 

I don’t want to downplay the need to address a crisis in your personal life or fulfill your responsibilities as a citizen. I simply want to stress the importance of stability. When things become shaky, don’t use it as an excuse to harden your heart. We don’t want to become like those we oppose. When there’s tough work to be done, embrace the challenge while dealing with the problem—leaving time to appreciate the compassion and beauty that also exists. 

Easy for me to say, right? I must admit finding balance has been a test of late, what with our beloved leader charging around like the proverbial bull in the china shop, toppling freedoms and breaking alliances. As feelings of anger and helplessness spring forth, I often find myself shedding my pacifistic persona for a more reptilian one. Instead of conjuring up images of neck-wringing, I came up with a plan to alter the picture. 

I keep these three things in mind:

1. In my opinion, our new president is reckless.
2. Reckless people tend to make mistakes that sooner or later come back to bite them.
3. Visualization can lead to manifestation.

The first two points are self-explanatory, so let’s explore the third one. From personal experience, I know that when we create a firm mental picture, one we hold with confidence, it quite often comes to pass. When I replace the image of the president boasting, bullying, scowling, or shouting with an image of him being led away with his shackled hands behind his back, it takes the charge out of a grim situation. This technique can turn paralyzing despair into a freeing sense of hope that justice will prevail.

If this resonates with you, consider sharing my vision—who knows what could happen.

​Visualization is only one weapon in any opposition arsenal. All of us need to evaluate what we can do and find the most effective tools for making our voices heard. That’s what democracy is all about. 

Arianna Huffington offers wonderful advice and steps we can take in her post “How to Get Out of the Cycle of Outrage In a Trump World”:

​The goal of any true resistance is to affect outcomes, not just to vent. And the only way to affect outcomes and thrive in our lives, is to find the eye in the hurricane, and act from that place of inner strength. . . .

​As Marcus Aurelius, who spent nineteen years as the Emperor of Rome facing nearly constant war, a horrific plague, an attempt at the throne by one of his closest allies and an incompetent and greedy step-brother as co-emperor, wrote, ‘People look for retreats for themselves in the country, by the coast, or in the hills. There is nowhere that a person can find a more peaceful and trouble-free retreat than in his own mind. . . . So constantly give yourself this retreat, and renew yourself.’

Whether you are doing something as simple as washing the dishes or as complex as fighting to save the nation or the planet, give yourself the space to come into balance. Without it, you'll be apt to make poor decisions, not to mention jeopardizing your health.

​We need to remain strong to achieve our goals, so make sure to include humor, beauty, and serenity in your daily life.

Public Service Announcement:  If you need an escape from the uncertainties surrounding us, read my fun sixties adventure book, Groovin’: Horses, Hopes, and Slippery Slopes. It will get you laughing while taking you back to a time with similar real-life issues. 
                 

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