Finding Peace Amidst the Chaos
For those of you that are invested in my whereabouts, I’m currently in the library typing this silly little blog post. Coming here was counterproductive, but my brain is still decompressing from the past few weeks. To say October was a rollercoaster of emotions would be an understatement. Anyway, I figured what better way to start the month than to write about finding peace amidst the chaos? I seriously need to take a page from my own book, so this is more of a measure of accountability to make sure I’m not wallowing in self-pity. I’m going to detail my tips to finding some sort of stability when life feels like it keeps throwing punches. Take a deep breath, grab your drink of choice, and let’s dive into it.
First I need to outline 3 points that you need to stamp into your brain. You may roll your eyes and say “it’s just not that easy” but guess what? Things worthwhile don’t come easy. Call it tough love, I’ll call it the brutal honesty that I needed to hear.
Life doesn’t suck
To be completely frank, this is one of the brutal truths I keep having to come to terms with. Yeah, shitty things happen, people are shitty, and sometimes life just doesn’t make sense, but your life doesn’t suck – your attitude does. When you think you have it bad, just look at the person next to you. Oftentimes, they’re fighting demons of their own. Would you rather deal with their shit or yours? Don’t answer that, it’s rhetorical. My point is, shitty things happen to all of us. We can’t escape pain and suffering, so we might as well embrace the journey. To put it in perspective, there are 8,760 hours, 365 days, 52 weeks, and 12 months in a year. Whatever you’re struggling with is only a fraction of that time. And who knows, maybe this god-awful, can’t get worse, I-feel-like-I’m-dying feeling will actually serve you well in the end.
2. You can’t escape suffering
The quicker you learn it, the better off you’ll be. Hell, I clearly need to get this tattooed on my forehead because I keep trying to cheat the system. I try to expedite the healing process. I constantly find myself cursing the universe for dropping another load on my plate. Clearly I need to get a mf grip because 1. All it does is drain me, and 2. How am I supposed to enjoy the great moments if I don’t know what the abysmal ones feel like? So I’ll suck it up and deal with it because it’s all temporary, and I know things inevitably get better. Right? Right.
3. Remember when you thought you couldn't?
Another fun little game I like to play with myself is called the comparison game. Ahahhahah I’m kidding I refuse to encourage this EXCEPT for right now. Sit back and think of a time you thought you were at your lowest. Remember how horrible you felt? Remember feeling like life could not get any worse, or maybe that things would never get better? Well, here you are. A few years, or maybe even a week later, and you’re living, breathing, and doing better than you think you are. You sure as hell can get over it/get through it, and you will do it too.
Hopefully you see that shifting your mindset frees your mind from all the inane constraints you keep putting on it. This adoption of thought takes so much time. Ugh, I know – something we claim we don’t have enough of, but there’s no race to the finish line. Be gentle with yourself. Aside from training your silly little brain to think in abundance, I’ve also formulated a list of tasks that you can implement in your life – because who doesn’t love the satisfaction of mindlessly crossing things off their to-do list?
Get outside
Go for a walk, run, jog, bike, I don’t care, it’s up to you. Let the sun hit your skin and the wind blow in your face. Realize you are a small fragment of such a complex universe.
SWEAT!!!
This is an addition to the first bullet. Go move your body. There is something to be said about working out and releasing endorphins. Give it a try and let me know how it goes.
Un-plug
I’m not sure what situation you’re dealing with, but most times it helps to go off the grid for a bit. I’m not saying book a 1-way flight to Bali and avoid your issues, or ignore your family and friends, but your social media following will be fine without your presence while you take a break. This will not only help your mental, but you physically will get more shit done without the distraction. Give it a go, maybe?
Establish your energy-givers
I’ve come to learn that there are two sides to this spectrum: energy-givers and energy-takers. Who makes you feel zen and alive? Who makes you feel anxious and envious? Pay attention to your surroundings, and start spending more time with people that fill your cup. Your inner-peace is too precious to waste it on people/things/activities that continuously drain you.
Skip the to-do list
If you do a quick google search, you’ll find that the most successful people bypass to-do lists. First of all, they’re overwhelming as fuck. Of course you’re going to feel stressed if you’re looking at a laundry list of actions that beg your attention. Instead, pick 3 goals to get done for the day or try time-blocking. Maybe I’m getting the name of it wrong, but the idea is to schedule specific times to certain tasks. It helps you stay on track, and it doesn’t give your mind the freedom to come up with excuses or feel defeated.
Breathe.
If you think it’s overrated, you clearly aren’t trying with intention. Close your eyes if you have to. If you have my number, call me and I’ll help you. Just fucking breathe. From the bottom of my heart, it will be okay. Maybe things aren’t great right now, but I guarantee that you can find something to be grateful for. Focus on that and the fact that your state of being is temporary.
Woah, writing that lifted a weight off my shoulders. Thanks for sticking around. I hope you conquer whatever battles you’re fighting – I’m sure you will. And while you’re at it, smile. Smile at your phone like you got a message from your crush, or for my adult readers, smile like you just won the lottery (I don’t know what makes you guys smile at your phone so bear with me). You’re doing better than you think you are. Never forget that. Until next time.
XXOO,
EC
