Life has a way of knocking us off our rockers, especially when we least expect it. And just when we think we’ve bottomed out, we get knocked down again.
Navigating through these uncomfortable times while staying positive will require creativity
During times of crisis and discomfort, it’s so important to remember that these knock downs, setbacks, stresses and tragedies – however painful – are simply a part of life, and we have to find a way to cope as best we can. Surprisingly, peace and comfort can be found in the most unexpected places. To navigate through these uncomfortable times while staying positive will require us to get creative.
The world we face as of today is full of discomfort – on many levels.
We are engulfed by fear and uncertainty. Everywhere we turn: The news. Social media. Friends. Family. Our neighbors. Our community. Everyone is scared and uncomfortable. We are being told to stay inside, don’t go to work, don’t go to school, don’t shake hands, social distance, only go out if it’s absolutely necessary. This is such unfamiliar territory for us right now. We are movers and shakers and multitaskers, and we are constantly on the go. We pride ourselves on how much we do and how fast we do it. The majority of us are not equipped with the tools for navigating life when everything stops and we are stuck in one place for an extended period, left to nest in our discomfort, agitation and fear. We simply don’t know how to do this.
The daily struggle of our life is largely dependent on our ability to find a sense of peace and comfort through even the most uncomfortable and difficult times.
If you’re feeling the burn from the recent events that have taken place, finding something to bring a little comfort can help remind us that we are stronger than we know. And that we’ve made it through difficult situations before. And that it won’t always be this bad. And that this seemingly endless stretch of fear, uncertainty, discomfort, and day-to-day disruption will pass. We will pick ourselves back up. We will carry on. We will grow stronger. Both as individuals, and as a collective. We will gain a greater understanding of ourselves, each other, and our life’s purpose. And we will once again find our way. Together.
Here are some vital lessons that I’ve learned along my path, and ways I’ve discovered to be able to maintain a sense of comfort during my own periods of complete upheaval.
Learn to trust yourself. Stay true to your path. Despite the current setbacks. Your path is going to look different from someone else’s. If you trust yourself, and stay true to yourself, you will intuitively know what steps you need to take to heal and grow and move forward.
Keep your focus on the positive. Sometimes things need to go wrong in order to go right once again. Stay focused on all of the gratitude and blessings that surround you. Our journey here isn’t supposed to be easy. It’s supposed to be worth it. So, find something positive to anchor your awareness into, and move steadfast in that direction at all times.
Let go of expectations. Life very rarely hands us exactly what we’re expecting. I know you feel me on that one. So, let go a little. Don’t miss the silver lining that’s right in front of you, because you were expecting to see something different. It’s important to remember that just because something didn’t turn out exactly like you planned, doesn’t mean that it isn’t the exact right thing you need right now, today, to become who you’re destined to be.
Reach out to your support system. You are not alone. Talk to someone. A close friend, a partner, a neighbor, a support group, someone, anyone. Allow someone in during your darkest times, to be there for you – even if it’s just to sit with you in silence. They may not be able to solve the problem, or make it go away, but allow them to be in it with you while you go through it. To stand beside you. To guide you towards the light. To the next step on your path. Find your person. No matter what. The most important thing to remember is that you’re never alone. We’re all in this together. Always.
Lean into the future. Not away from the past. When we find ourselves trying move away from something unwanted, it forces us to constantly look back at that unwanted thing and ultimately keeps us in a negative holding pattern. Instead, try turning forward towards what you DO want. I promise you, you will be surprised at how quickly the energy shifts, and how you naturally eliminate the negative, or unwanted feelings and begin to eagerly move toward creating what you really want.
Take a few steps back. Adjust your perspective. Sometimes you can see much more clearly from a distance. When you step back from the situation, and even yourself, you’ll be able to adjust the view, switch gears, and look beyond the fear and worry that’s got you feeling trapped. Focus in on the present moment. What do you see? If it were a friend or family member, what would you say to them? Treat yourself the same way you would treat your best friend. Step back from the situation and give yourself the support and advice you’d give to someone you love. Be your own BFF.
Be gentle with yourself. Take it one step at a time. That’s all we truly can do. One step at a time. One day at a time. One minute at a time. One breath at a time. Try not to let the pain of the past (or present) make you feel defeated. Just because yesterday was painful doesn’t mean today has to be. The darkest times are often new doors opening up for us in disguise. Take each day to reflect and make choices that will bring you closer to the wanted outcome. Give yourself time to process, to heal, to grow, to feel all the feels, to fall apart, to pick yourself back up. Be easy with yourself. You are allowed to be wherever you need to be right now. And remember that beautiful new beginnings come from what we thought might be the end.
Bottom line: Trust yourself. Find the silver lining. Let go. Reach out. Lean in. Step back. Be easy. Find your comfort. Whatever it may be. A cozy blanket. A hot cup of coffee or tea. A snuggle with your lover, your child or pet. Get lost in a good book. Write about your experiences. Whatever it takes. Find your comfort. You’ve got this. ♥️
An International Bestselling Author, Lifestyle and Leadership Coach and speaker, Tris Thorp is one of today’s leading experts in the field of personal growth and leadership development, specializing in emotional healing, women’s empowerment and shadow work.
Having spent a decade traveling the world, being trained by and sharing the stage with Dr. Deepak Chopra in the field of social emotional learning, consciousness and mindfulness-based practices, Tris has a real gift for integrating the ancient spiritual teachings with modern-day science and mindfulness to help people all over the world let go of their past and create an empowered new future.
During her tenure at the Chopra Center, Tris apprenticed under the Chopra Center’s co-founder Dr. David Simon, co-facilitating the Healing the Heart and Emotional Freedom workshops alongside him. Prior to his passing in 2012, Dr. Simon appointed Tris as the person to carry on his teachings in the field of emotional healing. In addition, Tris was fortunate to be mentored by the late Debbie Ford prior to her passing in 2013, which is where she continued her extensive studies of the unconscious mind and concepts of the persona and shadow. After the loss of her two mentors, Tris went on to become certified through the Ford Institute as a coach specializing in Shadow Work and reconciling mental and emotional issues stemming from past experiences. She continues to share the gifts of emotional healing and facilitating this work in the footsteps of her former mentors.
Tris is the International bestselling author of Healing Your Heart: Rewrite Your Story with Awareness and Intention. A guide book to understanding your emotions, how we create our story and workable tools and techniques to heal from the past, Healing Your Heart stewards you through the process of releasing mental and emotional baggage, forgiving yourself and others, setting and enforcing boundaries and consciously communicating your needs in a loving and effective way so you can be who you’re meant to be, do the things you want to do and have all that you deserve to have in this life.
Tris is also the co-author of bestseller Mental and Emotional Release® with Dr. Matt James. Written in a language both professionals and non-professionals can understand, Mental and Emotional Release® offers real life case studies, an overview of MER and its foundation, step by step scripts to follow, and clinical efficacy studies comparing MER to other therapies.
Clearly in her dharma, Tris’s passion and dedication to gently guide people on their inward journey through personal growth is evident in her work as a Lifestyle and Leadership coach, Trainer of Mental and Emotional Release and workshop facilitator. She teaches various courses on leadership development, personal empowerment, social emotional learning and higher states of consciousness – both in online courses and her certification programs, live workshops, VIP retreats and 1-1 clients.
Tris Thorp is Board Certified by the Association of Integrative Psychology as a Trainer of Mental and Emotional Release ®, Master Practitioner of Neuro Linguistic Programming, Hypnosis, and Mental and Emotional Release ®, a Certified Reiki Master, and an Experienced Registered Yoga Teacher with Yoga Alliance.
Tris is devoted to inspiring and empowering others to cultivate and maintain mindfulness-based lifestyle practices that lead to greater clarity, purpose and fulfillment. Through one-on-one coaching, online programs and live events, Tris specializes in helping people to fully release negative emotions, limiting beliefs and unconscious patterns, enabling them to make quantum leaps into the life they are truly meant to be living.