Moving Forward
I just returned from a week-long whirlwind tour of Spain. My head is still spinning from all of the beauty and history that I absorbed in a short amount of time. It’s always difficult to come back from vacation, but It feels especially difficult this time to come home to the gray November of Ohio against the backdrop of the recent election results.
The morning after the election, like probably many of you, I awoke with a feeling of dread; I felt that the whole world had changed overnight. Although nothing in my life was any different than it had been the day before, my whole perspective seemed to have shifted. When I left for Spain the next day, I felt as though I were still in a state of shock and wondered if I would be able to fully enjoy myself, I quickly realized that this trip, planned many months ago, could not have come at a better time. Constantly seeing new sights, learning and experiencing new things and meeting new people heightened my awareness, broadened my world and kept me fully present. Travel can truly change your perspective.
Back home now, I’m still processing many different emotions and my perspective is continuing to shift. Here are some of my thoughts for moving forward in this time of uncertainty.
Be compassionate with yourself. How we feel constantly changes and we may experience a multitude of emotions, often conflicting, at the same time. Honor your physical and emotional body in each moment.
Let yourself feel all of the feels, but don’t let fear consume you. When you give in to fear you lose your power and let circumstances and others control you.
Micro-dose hope (Brene Brown recently posted about this concept on instagram). Do not let yourself fall into despair. No one can predict the future and there is always reason to be hopeful. Each day brings new opportunities for joy. Hope is the anecdote to despair.
Practice lots of self care– spend some time each day doing something that brings you joy. Immerse yourself in nature, art, music, poetry, meditation, movement. Take breaks from news and social media. Give yourself permission to take a break from relationships that aren’t contributing to your well being.
Practice gratitude daily. We create our own perspective and reality, so each of us has the power to shift our perspective. Gratitude is the most powerful way to create that shift in mindset.
Seek opportunities to learn something new. Learning new things keeps you present and can boost your mood, brain function, memory, and creativity. Consider learning a new language or taking an art or dance class. Community centers have many options. Some universities like Ohio State offer the opportunity to audit classes for free for those over 60.
Seek connection. Surround yourself with amazing people with energy that uplifts you. People who are thoughtful, kind, empathetic; people who you can laugh and cry and be your beautiful self with.
Find opportunities to offer your gifts to others, especially those who are isolated or in marginalized groups. Each of us creates ripples with every one of our actions.
Embrace community. Embrace kindness. Embrace courage. Embrace hope. Together, I truly believe we can bring about real change.