Help During Chaotic Times

By Justine Willis Toms

We are living in a time of a collective leap in consciousness. Consciousness is changing for the better. This is the Good News.

On the other hand, when such a dynamic sense of change is unfolding on such a giant scale there is the presence of chaos.

Needless to say in this great turning of an age, there exists more than a little chaos.How, then, do we find and maintain our balance and optimism in the midst of this great turning? I suggest that we would do well to engage in what I call the, "Four Keys of Wisdom."The Four Keys are:

Circulate – not isolate. Remember to rub shoulders with life
Stay curious – Curiosity is an antidote to fear
Be optimistic – optimism is an antidote to worry
Develop circles of "Friends of the heart" who support you in your fullness

Circulate Not Isolate

It is important to get out of the house and rub shoulders with life. The mainstream media broadcasts, as if in one continuous loop, a litany of disasters, downturns, and miseries. This seduces us into staying at home and becoming paranoid and paralyzed. I suggest we go on a media fast of this kind of negative reporting, that holds up so few positive examples of the many breakthroughs that are happening all around us. Get out and circulate. Great synchronicities can happen when you rub shoulders with new people outside your well worn paths of circulation. Make yourself available to walk the corridors of life. Remember to circulate – not isolate.

Stay Curious

Curiosity is an antidote to fear. It is like taking a deep breath of fresh air. Curiosity has a lightness to it; it lets in the light. The in-breath oxygenates the blood which, in turn, brings oxygen to the brain and helps us to think more creatively and to be more imaginative. Curiosity helps us to be pilgrims of possibilities.When I start to catch myself spiraling down into fear and contraction, I say to myself, "Pull, up, pull up, be curious, not afraid.". Don't waste your time or energy wallowing in the paralyzing force of fear; move to curiosity where you can more effectively deal with daily challenges.

Be Optimistic

Optimism is an antidote to worry. The in-breath brings our bodies oxygen, optimism is like the blood that carries the oxygen. If we are worried we become tense. In fact worry has a negative physiological affect on the body as well as the mind and spirit. Through time this can be quite debilitating. Whereas optimism is the life blood of our soul.These two keys, curiosity and optimism keep us healthy. Being in a state of fear and worry is like contracting pneumonia. It stops the breath, which, in turn slows the blood flow, the brain is deprived of oxygen, and the blood becomes stagnant. Staying curious and optimistic will keep us healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

Develop a Circle of "Friends of the Heart"

Hang out with friends who support you in your fullness. Humans are more intelligent when we are in the company of others who are listening deeply to one another. There is an alchemical change that happens when we have truly been heard and witnessed by others. Having a community of friends of the heart is good for your brain power. Having deep conversations with others is good for developing your genius. We are more intelligent together.

There is an African saying that goes like this: "A friend is someone who knows your song and sings it to you when you have forgotten it." Those who love you are not fooled by mistakes you have made or dark images you hold about yourself. They remember your beauty when you feel ugly; your wholeness when you are broken; your innocence when you feel guilty; and your purpose when you are confused.

When you are feeling overwhelmed by these chaotic times and you are questioning your purpose use these four keys to unlock your positive potential.

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Responsibility does not only lie with the leaders of our countries or with those who have been appointed or elected to do a particular job. It lies with each of us individually. Peace, for example, starts within each one of us. When we have inner peace, we can be at peace with those around us. ~ HH The Dalai Lama