THE SENSITIVE TRAIT – HOW TO SUPPORT YOURSELF

I'm not one to put out there much what I believe and how I feel. I thought I'd change that today as I feel called to address the wave of uncertainty in the United States of America today.

I can totally understand people's feelings of dismay and concern today about politics as usual. I share many of your concerns. Even if some of the events that are happening could be good for our country, the administration is moving way too quickly, and not listening to the diversity of ideas outside of their closed circles. They are shutting out a lot of good people who can help them move forward in amazing ways. They even want to silence the media!

It seems like the legislature has their own agenda and they don't want to entertain any diversity of opinions. They aren't open to listening. They think they are right. They are a cabinet of white, rich people that are taking too much power into their hands, and not representing who hired/elected them. I don't feel they have the average American's perspectives at heart because they haven't walked in our shoes.

CHANGE IS GOOD.  I'm all for progressive change. I've been changing myself since I landed on the planet. And I am a life-long learner. But I don't have confidence that the current administration cares about We The People. 

They haven't attended public schools, or struggled to get their children through college. They haven't had to face the disappointment of not being able to send a child to college because they didn't have the money. They don't have to worry about finding health insurance, making co-pays, or not having insurance. They have beefed up benefits plans for vacations, holidays, sick leave, retirement, and more. How could they possibly know what it's like to be an American?

Cutting government programs and getting our spending balanced is very important. Certainly, finding this economic balance has been an issue as long as I remember. Yet, pulling the rug out from under those systems of support is not the answer. Having a systematic approach to change, where it's communicated clearly, everyone understands it, and it happens over time - that's the best approach to keep most of us on board.

For example, what is the alternative to the EPA? Perhaps many people don't believe in the environmental stress that is happening, but most Americans do. So why should the minority be setting the plans? If the EPA isn't the most efficient system, what will take its place?

What is the alternative to Planned Parenthood? It's has supported many women with planning families and maintaining health care that they couldn't afford, regardless of the abortion clientele its served. Abortion is such a personal event, and not an easy one for any woman that I have known that has had to make that decision.  Let's leave that discussion out of this topic, since way more babies have been prevented than aborted through Planned Parenthood services.

To support women's health care, perhaps we move systematically to give Planned Parenthood time to integrate into the Affordable Care Act? Or to find funding in other ways. But if we quickly get rid of both programs, what choices does that leave the millions of women, and Americans, for their healthcare? 

THE POSITIVE APPROACH. Somehow we must take a positive approach. What is happening now will fuel the greatest grassroots movements in history. What is happening feels awful to most of the people that I know; and many people are getting involved. Let's keep our involvement peaceful, as that is the most powerful. And let's take the high road always, no matter how mean others may seem.

I'm involved in what I care about in ways that I have never been. Donations. Marches. Contacting legislature by phone and email. Using my power and my voice.

OUR POWER. We are all connected; every person in power in DC is a friend, a family member, a parent, a neighbor, or a co-worker to someone else that is not in power.  And our thoughts create our world. So, let's consider - how did we create this mess? 

The tough questions: 
- How do we avoid listening to others with differing opinions? 
- Are there ways we are following our own agendas and don't want to hear what someone else believes or thinks? 
- Are we name calling and being hurtful when someone doesn't agree with us?
- Do we deny there is a difference and just go about our agenda?
- How are we limited in our thinking? 
- Are we owning our power in healthy ways, or giving it away to others?
What questions did I miss?

We have elected and created this body of people that are running this country. We are amid a big wake up call. We are being watched world-wide.

We need to stop depending on our government to take care of us. We need to take care of ourselves. Take our power back. I believe that, once these huge issues are resolved, things will move ahead in beautiful and powerful ways, better than we ever could have imagined. Yet I see many dark days ahead to get to that place.

I believe, out of this tragedy, great good will come. It will be a while, but I already see it. I see a power in our people, peacefully, that I didn't know was there. People are over the country are joining together to have a voice in what matters to them.


THE SENSITIVE TRAIT. This is a particularly difficult time for highly sensitive people, who feel and experiences life so deeply. 

Here are some strategies to help you navigate these unprecedented times:

• Choose one or two issues that matter to you, and get involved.
• Exercise your power daily. Get up, get going, and make each day great.
• Take care of yourself physically through nutrition and movement. If you don't know how, hire a coach!
• Love yourself. If you don't know how, look up Louise Hay's work.
• Listen to yourself. Sit in the quiet. Do guided meditations.
• Go outside and connect with nature - it needs us now more than ever.
• Breathe - this tool can show you how.
• Take yourself seriously - act on that inner voice that is screaming to be heard. Sitting in the quiet will help you access it. It may take a while to hear it, especially if you haven't been listening for a while. And once it starts trusting you again, follow what it says.
• Have a spiritual practice of some kind. The best inspirational source that I know - Hay House's  radio for your soul.
• Take breaks throughout the day. To start, take 5 minutes to turn the chatter off and refuse to let it affect you. This video can help.
• Discuss differences openly and respectfully.
• Spend time with loved ones laughing and feeling joyful.
• Above all, be kind to one another. 

You can do this. You have got this. 

Until next time, Be Kind to Yourself. [It starts with you, inside of you!]
 
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