Relationship Advice for Facing Doom and Gloom News
We just got back from our vacation/retreat at the beach and while we were away, we logged onto the internet from our condo we're renting this morning, this is what we saw...
Crisis!
Disaster!
Doom and Gloom!
From what we can tell, these kinds of negative thoughts are all over the news and are the focus of most people's thoughts and conversations.
In this brief message, here's what we want to suggest to you about what's going on in the world...
No matter what is going on outside of you, it's what's going on inside of you that really counts.
Take a moment and check in with yourself.
How are you feeling?
Are you feeling vibrant and alive or tight and constricted?
Are you feeling full of possibilities or thinking and imagining the worst.
Examining whether the thoughts you're having in this moment are true and are serving you or not is critically important to having the love, relationships, support, connection and the life that you really want.
Believe it or not, it is possible to shift from fear and constriction to openness and a feeling of possibility, even during times like these when it seems difficult.
Here are some ways...
The other day when we gave a presentation, we asked the participants to feel inside themselves to discover whether they were opening or closing in that moment.
And we'll ask you the same question...
Are you opening with love to the people around you, whether it's your partner, other family members or your co-workers, or are you finding that you are feeling tight, closed and fearful as you go about your day?
If you find that you are reacting to all the doom and gloom that's in the news--as well as massive changes that are happening in many people's lives, here are some ideas to help you get through this period of time with more ease...
1. Take a moment several times a day to turn your attention inward to feel where you are tight or constricted. Breathe into those areas of your body and relax.
A phrase that we have found to be helpful is as you breathe, silently speak or sing the words "All is well."
This is not to diminish or sugar-coat what's happening but it's to calm yourself so that you can have access to a clearer mind and be in a better place to help yourself and others through these changes.
2. Remember to connect with those you love and those you come in contact with throughout your day. It might be through listening. It might be simply making eye contact with someone. It might be remembering why you love someone and holding that in your heart.
Maybe you and I can't do anything about what's happening around the world but we can affect what's happening in our world.
Become conscious of where your attention is, what thoughts you are thinking and your actions.
Constriction cannot help us move through these changes but openness and love can.
We urge you now and always to continually be focusing on how you can be more open, present and a light of love in the world.
When you do this, we know your relationship and life will work at a much higher level than if you don't.
