A Simple Tool to Navigate Crisis

Our reserves were tested in 2020 & this past week has added another layer.

How are you holding up?

I haven’t found anyone who wasn’t impacted watching events unfold.

This isn’t a normal time & whatever you’re experiencing is likely a normal response to it.

Judging yourself for having a reaction won’t help, it'll just make the experience harder.

If you find yourself feeling stressed, overwhelmed, enraged, triggered etc. the simplest way to calm down is to breathe-intentionally.

Stop what you’re doing & put your attention on your breath.

Slowly watch it go in & out.

Notice your blood pressure start to go down, maybe your shoulders release a little…

Just let yourself drop into your breathing.

Give your brain & body a moment of peace whenever you need it.

You may have to repeat the practice over & over, but every time you do you are giving yourself the gift of calm.

Criticizing yourself, calling yourself names, or beating yourself up will only make you feel worse. Please just breathe instead. And if the criticism starts back up, take yourself back to the breath.

We're all doing the best that we can.