One of the things that turns on our stress response is a feeling of dis-ease or discomfort - a sense that something isn’t okay. But guess what? This feeling may just be caused by being bombarded with too much information. When we are overloaded with stimuli (as is the case for most of us), it becomes really difficult to focus on any one thing because we get addicted to too much at once.
Read MoreOne of the most effective ways to reduce stress is by noticing and really focusing on all of the ways you are actually safe right now. So often, particularly in these difficult times, we develop a heightened sense of vigilance. We find ourselves bracing when there's no immediate threat. We feel anxious and over-focus on perceived or imagined dangers when the truth of the moment may actually be that we are completely safe.
Read MoreIt is day 14 stateside (AKA our last day of quarantine)! After spending 2 years in Spain, we've found our way back to both a different world and a different life then the one we left. Like all things unfamiliar, this comes with both fear and discomfort and a sense of curiosity and possibility. What has been helpful for me first and foremost is
Read MoreToday I looked back on a blog post I wrote when we initially decided to move to Spain titled, A Year in Spain. Like a premonition, these were the things on my “Spain to-do list”:
Practice the difficult art of not being in a rush
Make more time for nothing
Apprentice to presence and come into a more subtle and vibrant experience of embodiment
Experience moments of connection previously unknown to me
I’ve been “working” on this list since we arrived in July, 2018 but this quarantine took those intentions to the next level, showing me just how little I actually need and that in fact, less continues to be more.
Read MoreWhen we’re in difficult or traumatic situations, feeling both self-agency and purpose is a necessity! Without it, we can feel anxious, fearful or even paralyzed. In quarantine, we can feel isolated, both from our support systems and from what’s happening in our communities. I’ve had moments of guilt for feeling good, for not suffering in the way other people may be suffering. I’ve had moments of feeling useless for not having a role to play in this world crisis. And then I’ve stepped back and recognized that like all of you, I do have things to offer.
Read MoreMany of you know that I am currently a resident of Spain in full lockdown. Strangely, instead of feeling isolated, I feel deeply connected. I'm feeling lucky to be in a country under quarantine. I feel both calm and comforted knowing that every other person in Spain is doing the same thing and that we are all playing a role in containing this virus and protecting those most vulnerable. There is a quality to all of this that makes quarantine feel connecting versus isolating.
Read MoreThis blog is not about influencing how you feel about the coronavirus. It’s not about giving you any facts, numbers, percentages or travel advice. And it’s not about comparing your chances of getting the virus to getting another flu, SARS, or any other disease for that matter. All I want to do is help you feel more relaxed so that you can gain perspective and approach the news with a clear head. Because the news is sensational! It’s about grabbing your attention. And what all reporters know is that nothing grabs our attention as quickly as fear.
Read MoreDid you know that one of the best ways to lower anxiety is to practice interoception; the skill of paying attention to the sensations in your body? This simple practice of shifting your awareness from your mind to your body can calm your nervous system and reduce ruminating thoughts and anxiety. It also strengthens a part of your brain called the insula which is the center of the mind/body/brain connection.
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