By Keri Nola, MA, LMHC
We are in the midst of intense global shifts in consciousness. One aspect of this process is our experience of tragic events, such as natural disasters and extreme violence that are serving as catalysts for us to wake up to our opportunity to live more mindfully. While these realities are often difficult for us to face, when we choose to react carelessly, we actually contribute to the energy we want to shift.
Whether facing personal or collective tragedy, it’s important that we are prepared with high vibration tools to stay connected with Divine truth in a time when support is most needed.
Here are five conscious ways to cope with tragedy:
1. Pause. Conscious people know the value of a sacred pause. Pausing and breathing before acting or reacting is the simple, most effective way to become grounded and centered in preparation for a high vibration response that supports peace and love rather than contributes to chaos and fear in the aftermath of tragedy. Give yourself permission to pause and breathe often.
2. Observe reactions with compassion. Observe your reactions with compassion before choosing any actions. Notice your anger, fear or sadness. This helps to meet, acknowledge and process emotion productively. Action is often a distraction from feeling. You have a right to get in touch with your genuine feelings about tragedy and spend time with those feelings gently and compassionately. This also includes observing any desire to participate in low vibration activities such as watching news media obsessively or using social media to express judgment and blame.
3. Allow. Welcome the flow of the feelings you discover in your observation. Too often we stifle, stuff and reserve our emotions, which can lead to a variety of bothersome physical, emotional, mental and spiritual symptoms. You have a right to experience and allow your full range of emotions. Tragedy striking is a perfect catalyst to awaken parts of you that have been asleep … notice their presence and allow the feelings rather than ignore, shame or deny them. Note this step does not require any external action. Allowing our feelings may look like crying if you’re sad, writing about your anger, judgment, blame, fear, etc.
4. Choose. Consciously choose how to perceive tragedy. If we choose to see tragedy as something that is happening TO us, we feel victimized and powerless. If we choose to see tragedy as something that is happening FOR us, we feel curious and empowered. In order to evolve to our highest potential, we often need to experience events and circumstances that wake us up. Life is an ebb and flow of joy and pain, and navigating tragedy mindfully with a conscious perspective allows us to step into our divine potential more smoothly.
5. Serve. We are each here to be of service — to let our lights shine as we share our gifts, talents and hearts with the world. In times of tragedy when we may feel powerless to fix or change something, we can use it as a reminder to come back to how we can serve. Is there something you have to offer that could be of use? Time, money, food, skill; even if you’re not able to be of service directly with the tragedy, being of service in some way contributes to the vibration of community and connection, which ripples outward and the whole planet benefits.
Author of “A Year on Your Path to Growth: Daily Inspiration to Reconnect With Your Soul,” and “44 Holistic Tips for Peaceful Sleep,” Keri Nola is a highly regarded psychotherapist, and Founder of Path To Growth LLC, an integrative healing center based in Central Florida. She combines traditional and holistic techniques to create products and experiences that help people access their inner wisdom and create a healthy mind, body and spirit to live their most inspired lives. Her real life experience paired with her extensive education and work background makes her a compassionate, balanced, and sought-after professional in the areas of personal and spiritual growth and development. For more information, visit www.pathtogrowth.com; follow Keri on Twitter @PathtoGrowth; or on Facebook.