2016 so far…8 ways to stay sane

“It’s not personal. Whatever is happening is not about you, it’s about someone else’s journey.”

I have heard many people say that 2016 seems to be shaping up to be a really weird year.

Firstly, a lot of high-profile, much-loved celebrities have passed away.

Secondly, the US presidential campaign has been a gong show so far.

Thirdly, there have been more terrorist/murderous attacks on unsuspecting groups than ever.

So yes, 2016 has been a sh*tshow.

In my little world, none of the above has directly affected me or my loved ones. We live in Canada, which in itself is cause for celebration. But even more so, our small community on the west coast is on an island, which is only accessible by ferry, so we are not dealing with too much urban insanity.

Having said that, 2016 has been a bit of a sh*tshow for me too, and it came in a little package that turned into a big eye-opener.

Out of respect for those concerned, I won’t go into details. But I will say that whatever you THINK is going happen usually doesn’t; it’s the unexpected that smacks you in the face.

So I have been doing a lot of soul-searching lately, to come to grips with recent changes in family relations, and this is what I have come up with:

1. It’s not personal. Whatever is happening is not about you, it’s about someone else’s journey.
2. Stop worrying! Worrying is wishing for something bad to happen. Or it’s like swallowing poison to feel better. It’s just not going to happen.
3. Take care of you. Doing whatever it is that you most enjoy keeps you busy and is very therapeutic. It keeps the energy from surging through your veins via adrenaline, and lets you focus on something that is outside of yourself.
4. Eat well. Sugar, caffeine, etc. are not your friends in times of turmoil.
5. Walk.
6. Smile inside. This one is the simplest one, but the hardest to practice. Whenever I feel the onslaught of unwanted thoughts pushing to get in, I mindfully accept them and then focus on something that brings me joy. Even if it’s just staring at the dog. Changing the vibration inside myself is always under my control.
7. This too shall pass. Nothing is static. Whatever is happening this moment will not be happening in the future. We just don’t know how long that will take, so we want to speed it along. But trust in the knowledge that everything changes eventually.
8. Honour your code. Whatever it is that makes you unique, trust it. My code is to be of service. So whenever I can I continue to assist others. I do not do this for gratification; I simply enjoy it. It is a selfish thing really.

So whatever life is tossing you this year, I hope the above will assist you in navigating the stormy waters a little better.