By the time you read this, I'll be off on another adventure! After a quick layover in Tokyo, I'm off to Thailand for an extended trip focused on volunteer work, personal growth, and more breathwork training. This will be a long immersion in the Thai island culture – nine whole weeks!
As the trip gets closer, I've noticed those familiar fears creeping in, especially that big old fear of the unknown.
We've all been there, right? A new experience, a big life change, or even just thinking too much about what's next can trigger that feeling. It can be tough to switch off the mental movie reel of all the possible scary outcomes. Especially right now, with so much going on in the USA politically, it's hard not to feel a little uneasy.
Maybe you can relate? The endless doom scrolling, the constant worry... So, how do we hop off that worry treadmill and get back to feeling that joy and excitement for all the good stuff life has waiting for us?
Morning practices have become my lifeline. Instead of grabbing my phone first thing, I've been (imperfectly) dedicating that first hour to moving my body, breathing deeply, filling my mind with positive thoughts, and doing a little meditation. This has been working for me, but we're all unique, so it’s all about finding a routine that works for you. My current go-to includes spending time on resonant breathing, meditation, stretching, and movement with uplifting music. I also do a few minutes of Breath of Fire. After that, I read some affirmations and an inspiring book with breakfast. Starting my mornings like this, instead of diving straight into my phone, seriously changes the whole day. Comment below if you try it and if you notice a difference!
I even deleted the news app from my phone. That urge to know what's going on in the world is a tough one to ignore sometimes. But I've started asking myself, "Is knowing this right now really going to make my day better?" We do need to stay informed, so I've started setting aside a specific amount of time each day to quickly scan the news.
When I do catch up on the news and start feeling those familiar negative emotions like sadness, frustration, feeling hopeless, or anger, I try to check in with myself. I ask, "Is my feeling this way right now going to change anything about the situation?" If the answer is no (which is often the case), I then ask, "Is there any action I can take to make a difference?" or "Is there something I can do to bring back my sense of joy or safety?"
A lot of the time, there isn't much I can do in the moment, so I've been turning to a few calming breaths and even having a little internal conversation with the part of me that's feeling worked up. I try to soothe that part and ask it what it needs. It sounds a little out there, but it really helps!
Those precious hours before bed? Definitely not the time for endless scrolling or the news. That's when I try to switch off social media and focus on activities that help me wind down. It's not easy, I know! That's why I started using the settings on my phone to help me stay on track. I actually set it up so that no social media apps can be opened for two hours before bedtime. Game changer!
So, what about you? What are some of the steps you've taken to dial down your worry?
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