How do you find peace amongst the chaos? Life can be unpredictable and chaos can present at any time. If this happens to you, how can you find peace?
I have had a challenging few weeks with some health issues, having some tests in hospital, navigating health funds and publishing my book. Life certainly felt stressful at times. I knew that I needed to find some peace to reduce these feelings of stress and began to look at what worked best for me.
Meditation is my ‘go-to’ when I’m feeling a bit anxious but sometimes I find that even this is hard to do. Those unwanted thoughts keep intruding. If I give myself enough time, I can usually calm down but if I’m in a hurry, it just doesn’t work.
Time in nature is a beautiful antidote to any feelings of overwhelm. Even a short walk around the block, helps calm down your nervous system. Of course, it’s easy to still get caught up in your thoughts, but the trick here is to place your focus elsewhere.
If I’m a bit anxious or feeling stressed, I try and focus on the sights and sounds around me. I pay close attention to the birds chirping in the distance and listen to the wind blowing through the nearby trees. I take note of the trees and different colours of green, the flowers and gardens that I pass.
I also smell the scents of blossoms or other plants that I encounter. Tapping in to your senses, places your focus on the present and not the past, or some unknown future.
In the Southern Hemisphere it is autumn, so a beautiful time to explore all the changes in nature. Leaves are turning different shades of red, orange and yellow and are slowly starting to fall from the trees. In the Northern Hemisphere it is spring, so a wonderful time to explore the fresh scents of bulbs and new flowers opening. The trees are such a vivid shade of bright green as new foliage begins to appear.
How can you find peace amongst the chaos? What works best for you? Become familiar with your own reactions to stress and overwhelm. Do you go into a panic mode and catastrophise everything, or can you look at the situation more calmly? It isn’t easy to alway be sensible, and feelings of fear and not coping may arise.
Try and focus on the ‘now’ and take some time out from whatever is causing stress. Prioritise You! Read a good book or watch a funny movie. Take that walk in nature and by all means, try some mediation if it works for you. Do whatever brings you joy.
Maybe it’s dancing around the house, or singing at the top of your voice to a favourite tune. Maybe it’s immersing yourself in painting, or writing, or baking a cake. Maybe it’s just moving your body in whichever way feels comfortable. Even a good shake of your arms, legs and torso helps to reduce stress.
Also try to be flexible. When life is unpredictable and chaotic, don’t try and control everything. I know this can be hard to do, especially when everything feels out of control. However the more we let go of trying to control everything around us, the easier it is to reduce the stress we are experiencing. Release what you cannot change.
Try to accept things as they are. This period of uncertainty is only temporary. You may need to do things differently for awhile. Be gentle with yourself and let go of self judgement.
How do you find peace amongst the chaos? We will all experience periods of chaos throughout our lives. It’s just a part of life. Part of its’ magnificence and also part of its’ challenges. When these occasions happen, take some time out. Grant yourself the gift of peace and self compassion.
Remember that at the end of chaos, lies a deeper knowing and a sense of calm. Possibilities may arise that you never previously considered. See this as a chance for growth or a new perspective on how you view your life.
We may not welcome chaos in our lives, but know that peace is always possible. We sometimes just have to look a bit harder to find it.
With love,
Judy xxx
Disclaimer: Please note that all information in this article is the opinion of the author and obtained through her research and knowledge and the above references. It is not meant to replace medical advice and a medical opinion should always be obtained for any health condition.
References: Photo by Dominik hofbauer on Unsplash