Simple tools can
work when we feel anxious, afraid, stressed. We have a choice about whether or
not we remain grounded.
Earlier this month
I posted the following writing tip:
Be a creator of peace on earth…as you
journey through the holiday season. Write a list of twelve things that calm you
and are easy to do anytime, anyplace. Keep the list nearby and commit yourself
to peace by practicing something on your list each time you begin to feel
stressed. Sway with the changing winds, but remain rooted in serenity.
So in the spirit
of sharing, here’s my personal response to this task:
Take deep
breaths
Meditate
Write a
gratitude list
Walk
Close eyes
for five minutes
Do a journal
purge write
Lay hands on
the earth
Get in yoga’s
child’s pose
Hug the dog
and cat
Enjoy an art
image or photograph book
Paint
mandalas
These work for
me. Some of these are my daily practices; others are what I consider “decadent”—things
I allow myself only as a rare treat.
I’ve chosen to
do eight of these in the past several days. While I have many other grounding
activities and practices I can do to move back into balance, these are the
simplest and most effective in “a pinch”: precisely the time I need such
de-stressors. With this short list of simple go-to activities, I can remain
rooted in peacefulness even as my day blows to the winds.
May you embrace
this season - of holidays, endings and beginnings, the shifting ratio of light
and darkness, events and visitors and obligations and socializing – with
moments of punctuated peace. May you generate calm. May you be calm. And
as you are calm, despite whatever else is happening, may you feel the
solidarity of our common quest for forward movement, deeper roots, and peaceful
interconnection with all beings.
(Revised version
of what I posted on Dec 11, 2015.)
All blog images created & photographed by Jennifer J. Wilhoit unless otherwise noted. Please circulate images with photo credit: "©2016 JenniferJWilhoit/TEALarbor stories. AllRightsReserved."
