How to stay sane when the world’s gone crazy

The apparent world is in a full-fledged state of tilt-a-whirl panic. We’re all feeling the pulse of it in our lives and work, in big and small ways. I’ve seen leaders across the board, from solo operations to multi-billion dollar companies, devolve into fight, flight or—most commonly—freeze. People seem to be holding their collective breath, while pouncing on the next fear feast: an anxiety-inducing news story, policy change, or even documentary, and it’s taken all of my energetic discipline to stay centered through all of it.

Anxiety is not the only emotion in the ethers… People are leaving the planet, right and left, leaving a wake of grief behind them. (Not everyone agreed to be here during this tumultuous time… so they’re crossing over to watch and help from the other side.) The bottom line is, folks everywhere are going through transitions and massive change. And that is activating a lot of fear and grief, as we resist letting go of what was, in favor of what is and will be.

And no judgment: this IS the program we’re steeped in. Have been trained to feed ourselves a steady diet of… fear, that is. The dominant paradigm of the last couple of thousand years. It is so ingrained that if you choose NOT to partake in a nonstop current of fear, people think you’re “out of touch,” “unrealistic” or “deluded.” (I’m not talking about helpful, run-away-from-saber-toothed-tigers-fear; I’m talking about a harmful culture of fear.)

But… what if FEAR is the delusion?

Not that there aren’t things happening. There are… and what I’m talking about is how we experience and perceive the things.

Speaking of fear, I felt nervous to write this blog article. In the grand scheme of things, not a big deal, right? And yet I snapped grouchily at my business bestie as I picked which photo to use. I felt scared to publish when I’d been quiet for so long. Like maybe I burned a bridge or something. (Not to mention all the conventional fear-driven strategy: “Stay consistent! if you don’t, you’ll lose your audience!” And there is something to be said about keeping in touch.) Our days can be filled with these little pangs of anxiety.

And then, as another friend reminded me, the alternative perspective is just as real: “They’d love to hear from you.” It reminds me of long-time friends: I never care how long it’s been, I’m just happy to hear from them. We pick up where we left off, as if no time has passed. And how I know, as a marketer and a consumer, that if something is of value, or exactly needed in that moment, people don’t care. I mean how much of that “consistent” content do we scroll past, skip over or delete from our inboxes altogether, right?

… Interesting, right? Both perspectives co-exist. 

Either perspective can be my reality. The question becomes, which one do I choose? I chose to feel nervous and act anyway. To acknowledge my feelings and move forward. And to choose the reality I’d prefer to create: the one in which we’re long-term friends, reconnecting. (Hiiii! Long time no see! 😉 ) And: you wouldn’t be here if you didn’t want to be.

So here’s what you need to know to stay sane during these amazing, crazy times:

You’re not imagining things. 

If things feel faster and wilder and more tumultuous… it’s because they are. Energies are coming in at higher and faster resonances than ever before. So if you’re feeling a general sense of anxiety with no apparent cause… you could simply be feeling this elevated energy flowing through your body. And your body, not yet used to it, is feeling a tad overwhelmed.

My hair stylist described this state well as I sat in her chair this past week. “Charisse, I feel like I’m behind, and can’t catch up…” She ticked off a list of her various projects: besides work cutting hair, she’s preparing for an upcoming art exhibit and getting married in a couple months…! “But I’m not actually behind on anything! It’s like I’m putting all this pressure on myself for no reason. I feel it right here,” and she pressed a hand to her chest.

I told her that the extra flutter she was feeling in her chest may simply be a result of processing this heightened energy. Especially at our heart chakra, or energy center, where we connect with our innermost knowing and the unified field that connects us all. “That makes sense,” she said, with a sigh of relief.

It’s okay… We’re being offered the opportunity to upgrade our systems so we can flow with the current—instead of digging our heels in and resisting change. This means operating in ways we haven’t in a very long time. Our bodies were designed for this. We’re just relearning how to be in flow with the Universe.

Get plenty of rest—in fact, you may have noticed that your bedtime seems to be getting earlier and earlier, or you “run out of steam” earlier in the day than usual. Again, this is the body adjusting. Give it the rest it’s asking for, and it will adapt.

Also, stay well hydrated… Water is a tremendous conductor for energy. One of the other signs that you’re processing this influx of energy is a bit more water retention than usual. So if you’re a little puffy or bloated, it’s also ok. Recently, as I struggled to button jeans that fit the day before, my guides channeled a reassuring message: Relax, this is temporary. They sent a vision of my cells and the spaces in between them, plumped with water, in effect cushioning and lubricating the impact of this energy. Lean into one of nature’s most available healing tonics… water.

Sometimes… “When nothing is happening, everything is happening.” —Grandfather

As the ancestral guide of my best friend, Rosanne Romiglio-Ashley, often says… Sometimes the most is happening when nothing appears to be happening.

So: it’s ok to stop moving. To pause. Take a breath. In fact, I cannot overemphasize how important it is to Breathe. Right. Now. In through the nose, out through the mouth. Let stuff gooooo!

Not only is it ok, it is mandatory for our survival and success. Stillness, the void, is the other (required) half of creativity. There is the active, productive state that we enjoy, when we’re making and creating in the dimensions that we can see, hear, taste, touch—and there is its opposite state, when we’re doing the internal work of co-creation. Listening to the nudges. Allowing ourselves to rest. Clearing the detritus, the clutter that no longer resonates. And tuning in long enough so we can truly intuit our next steps.

We live in an overculture that prizes the active “doing” phase over the receptive “being” phase… to the extent that we believe we must constantly be busy to… to what? Prove our value? Show that we’re not lazy? Avoid the feelings and issues that come to the surface when we do give ourselves a moment to breathe?? (Oh yeah, I went there.)

A former client of mine put it in a funny but slightly harsh way: “Busy is the new stupid.” I might rephrase it this way: staying constantly busy is another deeply ingrained program that sees humans as gears in a machine that’s always working, spending, consuming… for the benefit of whom or what, exactly? If there’s anything we’ve learned as the most recent generations, constantly occupied to a frenetic degree that our ancestors never experienced, it’s been none too kind to our bodies, nervous systems, or the natural world of which we are an integral part.

Allow yourself to be still, get quiet, or busy your hands (or feet!) to free your mind. 

To follow the whispers, and ignore the shouts, we need quiet time. I’ll say it again: time to breathe. In through the nose, out through the mouth, to let it go. 

Get your hands in the dirt; garden. Walk amongst trees. As some of the world’s best and wisest circulators, they are great at helping you move energy and hard feelings through; ask them for their help. Bake. Bead. Knit. Dance. Run. Wash the dishes by hand, and allow the warm, sudsy water to transport you.

Some of my best insights and solutions come when I’m not focused on and doggedly working them. Allow for the grace of inspiration.

Choose how you spend your time wisely. 

Consider taking a news/media/scrolling fast. A break from the constant stream of information.

…Controversial, I know. (See my first paragraph… people will think you don’t care, or you’re “spiritually bypassing.”) But you’ll know the truth. It’s not about being out of touch, it’s simply choosing not to make an all-you-can-eat buffet of it.

Years ago, I took Dr. Andrew Weil‘s advice on this, and didn’t watch the news for a solid week… Then two. And then three… I never wanted to go back! I did not at all miss the feelings of horror, anger and powerlessness. And let me tell you this: that news fast has stretched for decades and has only improved my physical and mental health. Believe me, I hear about the major stuff and follow the topics that most concern me—including topics deemed unimportant by mainstream media, like indigenous and international issues.

When you start to get that message, “I should know what’s happening,” “I have to watch this,” etc. ask yourself: Do you? Is it your problem to solve? Dowse for the answer. If yes, have at it. You have my deep respect and admiration; it takes tremendous energy to be on the front lines of the issues we are healing. However, if the answer is no, it is NOT your problem to solve, lay down your sword. You can far better contribute by putting your peace into the world than your frantic.

Let me reiterate this in a slightly different way, because it is SO important. Your energy creates. Your ENERGY creates. Your energy CREATES.

So pay attention to the state you allow yourself to remain in. Choose to stay in panic… and (unfortunately), all you do is you create more fear. Choose to let go of the past (a.k.a. forgiveness)… and you create more space to embrace the future. As one of my spiritual inspirations, Dr. Michelle Peal puts it, “Worrying is like praying for the outcome you don’t want.” (Which is also something Grandfather has been saying for years.) That’s deep!

And with the energies moving as fast as they are, manifestation is also accelerated. This is a wonderful and powerful thing: we can receive what we want that much faster… AND, it is critical that we take responsibility for what we want to create in the world. Whether we’re intentional or not, we’re always creating. We’re past the point of “working on that” or “trying”… it’s time to put on our grown-up energetic panties and consider our impact on the world around us.

What do you choose? Whatever it is: choose with care, with discernment.

Trust the guidance you get. 

For example, the guidance I’ve been receiving has been the opposite of what any conventional biz coach would have prompted me to do. Theirs is a world of goal-setting and goal-getting. Not bad, but often disconnected from the energetics of divine timing, aligned flow and equal respect for the pause as the action. Many of them only believe that only what happens in the visible, 3D world matters in your life and business. They couldn’t be more wrong. (This is a little taste, by the way, of what’s coming next from me… What if your business strategist was also a spiritual guide? Bridging the seen and unseen worlds…? More on this coming soon…! 😉 )

For the last several months, I received signals that—even though a change in direction was afoot—it was imperative that I Stop. Moving. Instead of push, push, pushing ahead.

No sudden moves. Slow down. It was a time of gestation… of preparing. It wasn’t about producing, it was about getting quiet. Going within.

I took the time to step into the (sometimes terrifying, sometimes frustrating) void to ask All That Is, “Truly… what is next?” For the best and highest good of all… What’s next? (…And that, my dear, is a topic for another day.)

Amidst all this tumult is (actually) the perfect time to re-examine what you’ve always done and ask, Is this how I want to continue? What do I long to create?

Now is your time, beloved. Your presence here is no accident. Your contribution is so valuable and important. And I am here for it! And for you.

These are truly amazing times of transformation, and I am grateful that you’re walking the earth with me. May your steps be easy and your heart full. xoxo

***

Let’s stay in touch! Hop on my mailing list and receive my Abundance Toolkit, delivered to your inbox with love. Sign Up Here