Continued from:

The Active Recovery Series: Part I 

The Active Recovery Series: Part II

I wanted to touch bases with all of you to bring the best resources of aid for anyone who is feeling overwhelmed, anxious or highly emotional/unsettled about what’s happening in the state of the world right now.

Things are changing. This is true.

When change occurs our systems aren’t quite sure how to plot out “what’s next”… this could possibly send us into overdrive and panic. Please know that maintaining your own balance within your own internal system will be crucial during these times.

Here’s a highlight from Diane Musho Hamilton, whom I recently got to meet and interact with during a workshop in February discussing what the sensations might feel like and how to down regulate your own system.

“Being in the here and now, and just using your breath.” 

-Diane Musho Hamilton

With anxiety, fear and panic on the forefront, lest we not forget about grief and grieving on the back end. These sudden changes can produce a grief like state. Everything one thought they were working towards could perhaps be gone, or so shifted one just may not know how to deal. Know this. You are not alone.

I was reminded by a dear friend today to acknowledge, share and lean into Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and David Kessler’s Five Stages of Grief.

The five stages of grief are:

1. Denial

2. Anger

3. Bargaining

4. Depression

5. Acceptance

For a great resource on the grief cycle check out PSYCOM’s article by Christina Gregory, PhD on The Five Stages of Grief.

I have researched heavily throughout the last 10-20 years of my life to understand transformation, growth, change and grief. It is a fundamental belief of mine that we all carry unprocessed grief within our systems in one way or another. So, the more we can become familiar with what grief is, the more we can learn how to process it and heal.

Try not to think of “healing” as a static point or a place to get to. Remember, it’s a process, so cycling through many times may occur. Also, Remember to be compassionate with yourself and others no matter where you or they may be in the stages of the grief cycle.

Grief is normal and grieving is a process. It is o.k. to be sad, or to be in any one of these places of the five stages of grief. There is no quick way through grief. There is owning it, honoring it, and learning how to continue to move forward with it. We renew, we resurrect, we recreate and we CONNECT.

When we grieve what we’re really feeling, then the joy and connection with one another becomes visceral and palpable.

Let’s support one another in and through these times.

Take heed in the words of meditation expert Emily Fletcher, “Up and Out, Up and Out!” In reference to feeling like you’re having a ‘breakdown’ consider letting the emotions flow, reaching out for support, and allowing the grief to come up and out. It’s a break up (and out) for a reason, clearing the way for compassionate days. When we learn how to process our own grief, we become more capable in the connection with, to and through ourselves, our lives, and others. We become the connector.

I am committed to continuing to bring all of the best resources that I can to the table during these times to help you support your own internal system and sense making. We are in this together. Let me know if you are curious about ways to apply Active Recovery into your life right now and I’ll continue linking to the most informed resources on the front lines that I can.

Here are some final words from Diane Musho Hamilton…

“We all know that when we’re in a state of mind that is more in flow, meaning that we’re not pressured by time, meaning that we’re not coming from an egoic place, meaning that it’s a natural responsiveness as opposed to making effort, that we can move in flow and we can execute really beautifully even under stress.

And so, any practice that creates more flow in my system and creates more flow in relationship to you and relationship to the whole is worth engaging at this time.

So all of us are being challenged to bring more of what’s possible to this moment, so I would say our kind of casual and “unmindful” way of being is not the best approach.

So, mindufulness awareness is the drill right now.”

-Diane Musho Hamilton

via Rebel Wisdom on YouTube
Episode: Resilience in Time of Crisis, Jamie Wheal, Diane Musho Hamilton & More
40:38

Be well friends. Take care of yourselves, family, and others. Remember to center, Active Recover, and down regulate when you can and most of all allow yourself to feel all the feels then pick yourself up and take the next best step! We’ll get through this together! xo