CENTER
The crisis the world is facing right now has me thinking a lot about the panic some people are experiencing. It saddens my heart to know that so many people are suffering emotionally and physically. My hope is that this will bring some peace to many of you. Let’s talk about bringing you back to CENTER.
A crisis brings about different reactions from everyone. I am sure you have seen a difference in people the last few weeks. Some people ignore or avoid the crisis, while others react in such a way that causes severe panic. It’s pretty apparent that peoples’ reactions to stress/crisis fall on a spectrum. We are not here to judge good or bad, just to use the information we gain to help ourselves and others.
Bringing yourself back to CENTER is a concept I use in my office quite often. It’s a way we can create peace, calm, and stability in our lives. One way I think about CENTER is through the concept of “Wise Mind”, which comes from the theories of Dialectal Behavior Therapy (DBT). In DBT it is believed that there are three states of mind: the rational mind, the emotional mind and the integration of these two to make the wise mind. I am attaching an image that came from “psychologycompass.com” so you can see the visual of this concept.
When you think about this concept, it’s important to recognize the importance of all states of mind. One state is no more important than any other, however, the key to staying centered is integrating the rational mind and emotional mind. The question is how do we do this?
If you are dealing with a high stress situation or even a crisis, take a moment to self-evaluate. Do you feel like you are reacting with more emotion than usual? If so, there are some techniques you can use to find your CENTER.
Some techniques you might try are:
- Take a moment to look around your surroundings and say 5 things you can see, 4 things you can touch, 3 things you hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste. Using this method pulls some of your rational mind back into play.
- Find a quiet place to pray or mediate. For many people CENTER is being with God or their higher power.
- Practice being in the “here and now”. Say things like, “I am here right now in this room and I am safe.” or “The sun is shining, and I am just fine right here in this moment right now.”
- Mindful breathing – being aware of each breath in and out. Slowing your breath down and taking longer, deeper breaths will help too.
- Make use of your internet and search for “mindfulness techniques”. There are many options, you just need to find the ones that work for you.
- Visualization is a very powerful tool as well. Use your creativity and make a movie in your mind of a place that is perfection. Spending just a few minutes in a visualization can bring about positive change for you. My happy place of perfection is the ocean. I can visualize being on a beach and experience it through using all five of my senses. I hear the waves crashing in and can track the rhythm. I see the white foam on the edges of the water and the blue water drop off the horizon, I feel the sand and water pass over my feet as I stand where two worlds come together. I taste the sea salt on my lips from the mist in the air. I smell the sea air, knowing as I take in each breath deeply, I am pulling in a healing power beyond anything we have access to. I have practiced this so often, that I can come back to CENTER in just a few seconds of focusing on this visualization.
The more you practice these skills, the more likely they will become automatic in times of stress or crisis – when it really counts. It is my hope you gained some insight about our behaviors during times of stress or crisis. Do your work, and you’ll benefit tremendously now and in the future. Also, please consider how stress affects people differently. Let’s work to honor and respect everyone struggling to find CENTER. We don’t know everyone’s journey. Consider that some people may have an adverse reaction to stress and crisis because of an experience they had at some point in their life. If we practice bringing ourselves to CENTER, it will model to those around us that peace and calm is within our grasp.
A few questions…
What are some of your healthy “go to” techniques that bring you back to CENTER? Please share!
When was a time in your life that was highly stressful and how did you cope with it?
What things in life are the most stressful for you? Relationships? Health? Finances?
Describe your visualization of perfection or your calm, safe place in full detail trying to include all the senses.
Growing word by word,
Jackie
Love this!!
Two really great trials come to mind.
1) when we learned that our infant son had congenital kidney deformities that would later require transplants. In fact there would be 3 transplants between the ages of 10 and 30.
2) The second was the financial crisis of the 70s. We were farming at the time, only married for a few years and these events were happening simultaneously.
There seemed no way out and there in fact was not an easy way out. I remember telling my wife at the time that this was going to be a very difficult time for our family and our marriage but it was doable.
Very long story but Jackie we made it thru.
Our son would end up have 3 transplants, we had to have a farm sale and leaving the occupation and lifestyle that we lved behind. Our marriage came to an end 20 years later but we survived the major crisis by the love and grace of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
Heath is a transplant patient but doing very well. I remarried to a woman who is everything and more than I hoped for as a companion, soul mate and wife. I went on to a great career as a pilot and a building contractor and am now semi retired.
I didn’t have the specific tool that you speak of to get through our crisis but remember how important it was as the family leader to maintain a positive attitude and realizing that “this too will pass.”
There are so many who need your word and ideas of wisdom. Thank you so much. God bless.
Harold, Your story is amazing! The trials you spoke of are definitely life altering. Your memory of the importance of attitude is something that will remain true forever and always. Keeping a positive attitude can change the filter in which we look through. Thanks for sharing!!
This is so helpful. I learned from my parents how to handle crisis. There were times in my growing up that things happened so that they took a moment and a day at a time. They showed it by example and my mom talked to me in my bedroom. She said this is just what we have to do for a while. It won’t always be this way, but for now we all have to work together. I’ve just always been able to refer to that as my center and apply it to whatever is my crisis, whether it seams like a crisis to anyone else, or not. Thanks, Mom!
Hi Delila! Your visualization of your mom and you having that conversation is exactly what I hope for all people. Think of that one moment, and how it has stayed with you. If kids can have a meaningful relationship with someone they respect, they too will have something to help center them in times of need. We never know how we impact someone, but we have to keep planting the seeds. Thanks for sharing!!