“Respond from the center of the hurricane,
Rather than reacting from the chaos of the storm.” – George Mumford
Full disclosure, I’m writing this piece today for myself. Because I know these things; I have many tools at my disposal to keep me sane and grounded in these times, but on the days it’s all just too overwhelming I will forget my tools, or distract myself, or get sucked into despair and/or anger. So I need to remind myself how to stay centered, grounded and connected with Spirit in these challenging times.
Of course, base camp is meditation or prayer, whatever brings you into space with your soul, higher consciousness, the Universe, God, the Beloved. Get yourself daily to a quiet, private place, even if it’s in your mind. Here is where we can be soothed, and remember we are part of something much bigger than the latest headline. Here we can empty our mind of the input of the world, and open it to receive the input of Spirit. Here is where we can surrender, lay our worries and fear on the table, and receive comfort. Here is where we can truly BREATHE.
“A long, deep breath is the equivalent of a full stop
and the key to centering.” – Eric Maisel
Don’t underestimate the power of the breath. As we center, employing a breathing practice that uses deep, belly breaths signals our parasympathetic nervous system that it’s safe to relax. Regulated breathing stimulates the vagus nerve which lowers your stress responses. With practice, quieting the mind, tuning in to Spirit, and deep breathing can return you to a state of centeredness within minutes. Keeping a regular practice can be difficult with the distractions all around us, but the more often we practice, the quicker we can return to a state of calm when we really need it!
Another tool I need to remember is to ask myself, what do I really have control over? Today, in this moment, what is in my control? As ego-minded as we tend to be, when reduced to this question, it can be difficult to realize we have very little control or power over many of the things we are upset about. This doesn’t mean we are powerless, but it does mean to put our energies where we can truly make a difference.
What IS in my control is how I treat myself and others. I’ve been making a conscious effort to exchange greetings with people I see as I go about my daily life. In these derisive times, connection is vital. Compassion is everything. A kind word, a compliment, even a smile, can create a moment of positive energy, of love energy, that stitches up a bit of the torn fabric our society has become. This I can control. This I where I can see evidence of change. This is where I restore my faith in humanity. I find the smallest attempt at connection elicits such warm, human responses!
“Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle.” ~ Plato
I’ve always loved this quote, mainly because it’s true. As they say, if you scratch the surface of literally anyone, you’ll find wounds and scars and much more in common than the differences a lot of social media wants us to focus on. So yes, take control over daily interactions and CONNECT.
“All right,” you say, “but I can’t be an ostrich, or a Pollyanna, or a guru on a mountaintop, I have to live and deal with this reality. We are living is a time of great upheaval and chaos, and it would be irresponsible and ignorant of me to not be informed.” I get it. How do we engage without being engulfed? The answer, of course, is that we have to limit our input. Choose one or two sources for information that you can truly trust, and shut down or shut off everything else. If your feed is full of inflammatory rhetoric, unfollow those sites so they’re not thrust on you, but you can check them out when you choose to. Same with friends who may post constant chaos. As with any diet, take control of what you’re feeding yourself!
I try to be like a dragonfly. Have you watched a dragonfly near water? They flit around, living their life, then occasionally dip in for water. If they constantly sat on the water drinking, they would get too heavy and drown! They take a sip, then take off. I’m trying to do that with the news. Dip in, see what’s up, then take off so I don’t drown.
And yes, we must also be active participants in our society. If we feel moved to speak out or resist or protest, we must do it! But how much better if we can do it from a place of centeredness, a heart of kindness, and a balanced mind? These times call for an army of grounded, spirit filled warriors. Lead with compassion. Lead with connection. Lead with love.
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that.
Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Meet me in the eye of the hurricane, and let’s make good trouble.
Victoria McGee
4/13/25
Victoria McGee, M.A. 