Are we all just surviving?
Sometimes even to live is an act of courage.
- Lucius Annaeus Seneca
Do you ever feel like we are all being tested at the moment? Is this actually the matrix? Are we in a game where someone is driving this insanity, throwing us curveballs, just when we start to consider we may be on track? Pulling the rug from under us every time we get close to believing we have a handle on things.
Are we all just literally treading water, finding ourselves increasingly in a fight, flight, freeze or fawn agonising state? Our human experience feels like an endless struggle.
We face far less imminent physical threats from predators that would require a fight, flight, freeze, fawn response, but is seems situations that trigger these primal responses are becoming a more regular occurrence.
Our threats and dangers many have evolved, but our biological responses have not, and are deeply ingrained. Not only do we live with anxiety, but we now have high functioning anxiety that can both lead to a fight or flight response. Overwhelming stress can leave us feeling paralysed leading us to freeze. Now there is the fourth ‘F’ where we excessively try to please others when we are faced with uncomfortable situations, fawn.
The turbulence of the uncertainty at the moment seems to know no bounds. Our resilience and capacity to adapt to ever evolving situations is being constantly tested.
When everything seems out of control, and you feel like you are in an endless up hill battle, it is natural to feel overwhelmed. It is okay, to not be okay. It is important to allow yourself to feel and explore these emotions. It is okay to talk about what you are going through, but it is also okay to allow yourself time to process, and not feel pressured into explaining, or feeling like you have to justify your emotions. If you feel it, it is valid.
It is also crucial that in these times you are taking care of yourself. Give yourself permission to pause. Then move your body, get outside in the fresh air and take a ten minute walk, but walk like you are about to miss the bus. Pump your arms, really get your heart rate up.
Unfollow anyone that makes you feel like crap. Once you have done that…
Stop scrolling! Don’t lose hours endless scrolling, instead put the phone down, or better yet, put it away in a draw, and start writing. Write anything, write a dream you have, commit it to paper. Write a regret you have, and forgive yourself. Write a goal, and set a first action point to get you started with a plan of attack. Write down something you are grateful for.
Make a plan to see someone that brings you joy.
Tell someone that you think they are great, or their smile is infectious, or they look like summer, but tell them because you really mean it.
Pick up that book. Submerge yourself in a bath of ice. Meditate. Practice mindfulness. Go and do whatever can bring you calm, clarity and freedom from the feeling of suffocation. It doesn’t have to be anything big, and it doesn’t have to take up much of your time. But allow yourself space, you have been through a lot, and you are still here, and know it your heart, that nothing lasts forever.
If you are struggling at the moment, I hope this helps in a small way, please leave any comments you have below, or drop me a like.
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