Finding Calm in a World on Fire

The world may be on fire, but your soul doesn’t have to be.

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Photo by Ravi Pinisetti on Unsplash

Why now: With global uncertainty, political tension, climate anxiety, and constant news cycles, you might be overwhelmed, anxious, or emotionally fatigued, but you don’t have to be stuck there. There is more to you than you have given yourself credit for.

You don’t have to shut out the world to stay grounded; you can learn to hold it all with grace.

I would like to take a moment in this post to reiterate some points I have emphasized in past posts and then add to the list of skills and techniques to support you moving forward through this time.

1. QUESTION EVERYTHING - I encourage you to question everything, meaning question all advice, social media memes, habits you continue to practice, and your own opinions – everything. WHY? Because this is how you stay awake and aware, and being awake and aware makes people freer and more potent.

2. KEEP UP OR DEVELOP - a set of spiritual practices, and please make sure that you include somatic practices. We want to develop a high level of body awareness and the messages it affords us.

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Gentle Somatic Exercises

Somatic movement therapy—slow, mindful movement that hones internal tracking—helps rewire tension patterns, improve sleep, reduce anxiety, and support emotional resilience, especially when combined with calm breathing.

3. IDENTIFY A COMMUNITY – being surrounded by people who accept you right where you are is a most critical step toward feeling safe and grounded. This place should be populated by open-minded individuals who are willing to have tough conversations and not be afraid to disagree.

4. RECOGNIZE MOTHER NATURE AS A SOURCE OF CALM – If you don’t tend to go into the woods or simply outside when you're not calm, I encourage you to start today. Whether it's your backyard, a local park, or a wooded area, it's scientifically proven that nature, trees, running water, and similar elements can calm your nervous system. (Note, this is a good reason for having a water feature inside your house.)

Here are a few references:

1. Mayo Clinic reports that just five minutes in nature can help regulate the sympathetic nervous system, leading to reduced stress, better sleep, and relief from anxiety or depression.

2. The concept of FOREST BATHING (shinrin-yoku, a Japanese practice) includes a meta-analysis showing decreases in cortisol, blood pressure, and heart rate after time spent in forests—even short walks—while boosting immune function.

MOTHER NATURE

And a TED Talk for further understanding:
How nature engages your brain | Tierney Thys

5. THE BREATH is key to your sanity, and it is always available and free. Neuroscience explains why it works. Researchers discovered that slow breath stimulates the vagus nerve, directly calming the brain’s alarm center—a key reason “just taking a deep breath” truly works

As we each embrace the skills to remain calm, we become a potent aspect of the solution to the current insanity. Is there more to do? Yes, if you are moved to, but if you are feeling overwhelmed, I encourage you to begin by taking care of yourself and your nervous system.

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