WISDOM WITHIN - June 2016 - Kansas City

How to Find “Lightness” and Escape Funky Energy

By Suzette Scholtes

 

I don’t know what is wrong with me,” a friend said. “I am feeling anxious and depressed for no reason at all.”

 

Lots of folks are feeling a bit down these past few months. Call it funky energy—who knows why? If you were an artist using white paint, wearing a white duster, working in a white room with a white canvas, creation may be tough. If you are feeling vulnerable, anxious, ambivalent, doubtful, or blue for no reason at all, you are on the same page with many others. There are ways to perk up from these blues.

 

First, spend time with upbeat friends and family. My friend Nan is living her dream-come-true. The short story: about six years ago, in love with her soul mate, circumstances tore them apart. She was heartbroken. She asked me if there would ever come a day for reconciliation.

 

I felt the great love between them. “Never give up hope as it may work out in the future,” was my comment. I knew some of the issues concerned his teenage children.

 

They do, at some point, leave home.

 

After years of silence they became friends and began to date again. This winter he proposed. She is packing up and moving to Fort Lauderdale this month. One New Year, Nan and I wrote a “key focus” for our futures. She wrote “live by the sea.” Soon she will live a mile from the ocean with her new, wonderful mate.

 

What can we do to stay grounded yet light-hearted?

 

1. Remember the love. Remember a time when you were so happy and excited that the feeling poured from your heart? Every time we focus on a memory of love and happiness it attracts more love and happiness. It touches your spirit and soul, lifting worry and fear.

2. Feel gratitude. Find ways to feel gratefulness from the mundane such as the comfort of silky sheets to the food you eat. Gratitude attracts more gratitude.

3. Appreciate moments of happiness. If you find yourself laughing, pause and take it in. Value it.

4. Heal remorse of your past. As humans, we will make mistakes and our mistakes are forgivable. If we judge ourselves as bad or wrong, we damage our self-esteem. Turn off “inner critic.” How do you forgive yourself? Choose. And ask for healing in prayer and meditation.

 

One of The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz wrote: “Do not take anything personally…Nothing others do is because of you,” he said. “What others say and do is a projection of their own reality. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won’t be the victim of needless suffering.”

Right now, treat yourself as you would a best friend—with kindness, patience, and understanding. Go easy on yourself.