Coping With Uncertainty

Category: Awakened Lifestyles Wednesday, 17 May 2023 Written by Semele Xerri

As we’re in such unsettled and changing times, I thought I’d share my top tips for coping with uncertainty using spiritual and healing practices.

These are very general and will be of benefit to everyone. However, they don’t address specific issues such as acute anxiety or depression, so you might want to seek additional advice from experts in these areas if necessary.

Practices for coping with uncertainty

Nurture gratitude: Gratitude has one of the highest emotional vibrations, and in my experience it often opens you up and leads you effortlessly into feeling a kind of joy.

My favourite way is to keep a gratitude journal, either written first thing in the morning or last thing at night. It focuses your attention on the positive aspects of your life and what is going well for you, which can help to reduce uncertainty and anxiety. You can keep it very simple and just jot words down on the page like “my morning coffee,” “my dog” “the tree outside my window.” Or you could make it more fun and personal by doodling or drawing those things you’re grateful for, pressing a flower or a leaf, or printing out/cutting pictures from cards and magazines.

Stay present: When you’re uncertain about the future, it’s easy to get caught up in worries and fears about what lies ahead. There are many mindful practices that can help you stay present in the moment, such as meditation and yoga. I find things that engage your body fully in practical ways are most helpful, like baking, gardening, or clearing out clutter. You have the added benefit and boost of a lovely result at the end of it! I also find it very useful to just consciously call back my energy and attention into the present moment, especially at the end of a busy day when I may have seen many people and been to a few different places. This conscious management of energy reminds you that you have powerful agency in any situation. The future is never set in stone anyway, and you are co-creating it with your thoughts, words, and actions in every moment.

Try mindful and deep breathing: It’s amazing how many of my clients habitually breathe in a very shallow way, only from the chest. This shallow breathing is what we do when we’re stressed and anxious and so it helps to maintain that feeling in the nervous system. Deep breathing is a very simple and effective way to immediately calm your mind and body, and you can do it easily wherever you are. Just close your eyes, and take a deep breath in through your nose right down into your belly, allowing it to expand like a balloon. Then breathe out through your mouth, feeling your belly relax and deflate again. Continue doing this for a few minutes. Allow your attention to follow the breath as it moves through the nostrils, down the back of the throat and into your belly. Then feel it move across your lips as it flows out on the exhale.

Be compassionate with yourself: Uncertainty can be stressful and overwhelming and so it’s vital to be kind and compassionate to yourself. As we are often our own worst critics and may be more used to caring for others, I find it helps to think, “What would I say or do for a friend or family member if I knew they were feeling like this?” So don’t beat yourself up for feeling anxious or uncertain, acknowledge your feelings and remind yourself that it’s okay to feel this way. Then gift yourself some form of self-care that you know always makes you feel better, like a long soak in a fragrant hot bath or a walk in the woods.

Stay connected: It’s absolutely true that a problem shared is a problem halved; don’t go it alone and allow the uncertainty to eat away at you by bottling it up. Reach out to friends and family for support, even though you may find yourself wanting to isolate. You’ll be surprised how many others are feeling the same, which helps you feel less alone and “weird,” and you can all share ideas for coping. Don’t forget that you have an incredible spiritual team of loving, healing beings who are always present and waiting to help and guide you. They won’t intervene unless you give them permission, so tell them how you’re feeling and ask them to help you when you’re struggling. I can still forget to do this, and when I finally remember turn to them I’m always surrounded by the utmost peace and love, led to an amazing resource, or given a reassuring sign that comforts me immensely.

Incorporating these practices into your daily routine can help you cope with uncertainty, reduce feelings of stress and anxiety, and remind you that you have the power to influence your experience. You can explore lots of other hints and tips in the Healing and Spiritual Living categories of my Blog.

© 2023 crystalwind.ca. All rights reserved. We track all IP addresses. Using a VPN will now also get tracked to original source IP.

Whatsapp