Balancing the Chaos of my Mind

A couple of weeks ago I went to my Ayurvedic Doctor for a check in. I have been going to him for over a year to help me with my chronic outbreak of hives. People and medical practitioners said it was stress and offered topical creams and oral prescriptions to fix the condition. After over 10 years of itching, welts, feeling agitated inside he changed the way I ate and what I was eating. I had been vegan, raw and vegetarian for over 15 years and loved it however the raw didn't love me. I loved the ease of preparing salads, smoothies with all the fixing including lots of avocados. What he was able see through my pulse, constitution, and practices was that my habits were too harsh on my digestion and was barely absorbing nutrients. Yikes! Through some deep changes I have been hive free for 10 months, my skin is softer (without lotions or creams) and one of the things that was amazing was I sleep through the night easily and often even with my bi-costal travel schedule. Everything he recommended worked (still no hives) until it didn't.

I began sugar and coffee craving that I gave into daily. What was happening? We explored my inner world where I practiced a steady stream of worry with navigating dad's health, my health, the world of events, what I was ingesting on a regular basis was a continuous binge of streaming dramas, gossip and opinionated podcasts that were forecasting the worst of people, events, and actions- a real recipe for anxiety. I entertained conversations along the same lines with people I kept feeding my inner world the same way repeatedly. I thought as long as I don't do these things first thing in the morning and meditated regularly all would be fine. NOPE! Everything I hear, see, feel is all part of the ingesting and digesting in my mind and body.

He shared that sugar cravings are due to the imbalance of my thoughts- What?

As we talked more the truth of the matter was seeing my 95 year old dad go through a roller coaster of health changes, me traveling almost monthly to help him had kicked up my sugar habit and when that wasn't enough coffee too. My reflection and journaling practice helped reveal the connection to how I used sugar regularly. I saw how it supported me by distracting and numbing my stressful thoughts, fears, and anxiety through much of my life where I didn't have the mental health tools to reach for to support myself.

As I boarded the flight to New York this time I felt free no computer, Ipad, any socials or news to connect to for the next 10 days. I went to a place that was quiet, drove

two-lane highways, simple living, and green landscapes. Daily walks in nature, conversing with elders who had wisdom to share of their lived experience we laughed together, did singalongs of songs I recalled as a child while integrating naps and just being present with what was happening in the moment. This allowed me to take inventory of things to continue my well being rebuilding. One of the things that was most helpful and still reading daily is the "7 day Mental Diet" by Emmet Fox so easy and complex at the same time. It is truly a conscious unlearning and awareness of the thoughts I think and speak aloud to practicing what I allow into my consciousness. Ideas, thoughts, images slip into my mind so quick and easy that can include worse case scenarios, the what if's and so on. As I started this practice it was overwhelming to focus and now after some time I can catch myself and disrupt my habit.

What's in your tool box

Some of the tools I am using to support myself in addition to TM Meditation and Reiki are Resilience Self Talk (RST) and North Star Guidance (NSG)- my goal. These two practices have helped me turn the corner and bring my inner world into more balance. For instance when I begin to feel the urge (too much going on ) to grab some peanut butter m-n-m's I tell myself we have been here before with these feelings and thoughts it's ok right here in this moment and I can do this. I then take a moment to recall what my NSG is and that to bring my mind back into balance; sometimes I need a bit more to soothe myself that's where some warm tea, laying down on my yoga mat, and or a short walk comes into play. I, like my sweet clients, am a work in progress and need support just like they do- it's natural. To be able to have and practice the courage to shift my behavior from overriding, pushing through and ignoring what's going on inside to having curiosity to paying attention to me has brought a stronger ability to nurture and care for myself. It allows the daily chaos to move through and past me and settle. The gift of this practice allows me to walk the journey deeper with everyone in my sessions and out in the world- more grounded peace,

Need support in these times? Want to discover your own RST or NSG?

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Ever wondered how I named my company Karegrounds Clarity?

I wanted a space where caring, grounding practices, and clarity all came together to serve people who want support towards their vision.

 Take Good care of YOU!

Karen@karegrounds.com