“Better to keep yourself clean and bright; you are the window through which you must see the world.”–George Bernard Shaw
Anxiety provoking 😬
Over the past weeks, I find I am feeling increasingly anxious as I read or listen to the news and/or various social media platforms. There are world events with real human and environmental consequences that worry me. Children are dying from injury and/or starvation in numerous parts of the world. Plus, the current political climate in our own country is so vitriolic and divisive, it can tie my stomach in knots if I listen or read about it for too long.
A few days ago, I was leaving work after an especially long day. Ready to shake off the day, I unloaded my daily work wares into the back of the vehicle, and hopped in the driver seat ready to get home and shake the dust of the day off. I started the vehicle, and the radio automatically came on.
We have a choice 🙉
By word of explanation, I had been listening to a book on the way to school, but because the bluetooth had not yet connected, the radio, set to one of the local public radio stations, automatically defaulted on. Since it was between 5:00 and 6:00 pm, the news was on. And while NPR is fortunately not one of the news outlets that seems to shout out every headline, it was in the middle of a story that, as my ears focused, began to make me feel worried, and I could once more feel my insides churning.
I continued listening for a bit more as I headed out of town, but found myself increasingly feeling more anxious. Suddenly, it occurred to me. I had a choice. I didn’t have to listen. So, I turned not only the news off, but the entire media system in my vehicle, rolled my window slightly down, and allowed the fresh air to filter in.
Connect to Your Breath 😮💨
Then, while I drove the rest of the way home, I took time to connect to my breath and to that still, inner voice.
Inhale. Exhale. Release the jaw.
Inhale. Longer exhale. Relax the shoulders down and release the grip in my gut.
Long slow inhale, fill my lungs with fresh air flowing through the window. Pause.
Then, a longer, relaxed exhale. Loosen the grip on the steering wheel and relax
the lower body.
I continued driving like this, using my breath as an aid to continue to relax other parts of my body that I had been unconsciously gripping tightly as the day progressed. I would not have noticed how tightly wound my body was if I had continued listening to the news.
Connect to Gratitude 🙏
Once I felt a bit more relaxed, I tried to list, in my mind’s eye, five things for which I was grateful. Nothing could be too small, such as, feeling grateful because I had not forgotten my lunch on that day as I had forgotten it on the same day the previous week. But, even more so, I was also grateful for my health, my family, my home, and so on . . . With each point of gratitude, I took time to pull that image up in my mind and genuinely reflect on at least one particular point of joy each one brought to my life.
Now, I will be honest, there were a few times when I lost my focus due to other drivers, deer crossing the road, or other random distractions. If I found myself lost in thought, I brought my inner attention back to my breath first, and then back to points of gratitude.
As I drove closer to home, I mindfully began to release concerns for which I could not control. I prayed for them, but ultimately, released my worries to God. I decided to trust and have faith that my concerns will ultimately work out for the best in ways I could not see or perhaps understand. It did not mean I was dismissing the issues that concern me–I was not. Instead, I was releasing my stress over them because my anxiety would/will not affect their outcome.
Shutting out the winds 🪟
Years ago, I read a story about a monk who had been writing a book. This was the time period prior to computers, when one would alternate between handwriting manuscripts and typing the final drafts. This monk decided he needed to take a break from writing and went out for fresh air and a walk.
He left open the windows of the small cottage in which he lived. And as he walked, the weather began to shift, and the wind began to pick up. When he arrived home, an hour or so later, all of his neatly stacked papers for the book had been tossed about within the house. In order to tidy up the inside of his cottage and reorganize the manuscript, the monk had to close all of his windows to keep out the changing weather.
This story simply illustrates the point that sometimes, if we are consuming too much news, social media, family/friend drama, and so forth, our inner world suffers. Like the monk’s cottage, the winds of life can toss our inner peace about. Therefore, it is worth remembering we have a choice. We can choose to take time to shut out, turn off, or let go of the outside world/drama, so that we can turn inwardly, and focus on “tidying-up” the worry/concern/ anxiety inside of us.
It’s not always “breaking News,” so set boundaries 📰
We don’t have to read/listen/scroll through/watch the news and social media at regular intervals throughout the day. We can take breaks from all of it. In fact, we are not of any benefit to ourselves, much less others, if we aren’t settled and at peace on the inside. Thus, taking time to connect with your breath and that small, still inner voice can strengthen and renew you, filling you with a sense of calm/peace in order to help others and/or take on challenges.
While we don’t want to completely shut off the world and hide our light, we do have a choice as to where, when, and how much we participate. Setting boundaries and/or taking breaks from what and how we choose to consume social media and news is within our power, and it doesn’t mean we are absconding from our civic or social responsibility to the world around us.
Shine your Light 🕯️
If we hope to shine our light and engage in meaningful ways that can contribute to the betterment of our family, friends, community, and even world to the degree possible, we must also take time to close the proverbial outside windows and tend to our own inner world. After all, even a candle must be protected from the wind in order to burn.
Steph Simply 