Joy is our birthright and there is an endless amount of joy and love that exists within us. During challenging times, it can be extremely hard to access and feel that joy. Our logical problem solving brain wants to fix the challenge, find a way out, and we often get sucked into this way of being. We may begin to feel hopelessness, despair, fear, anxiety, anger, grief, loneliness, etc.These feelings are real and you’re not alone in feeling them. And while I’m all for seeking solutions, sometimes we need to disconnect from that and let go of our problems.

It’s easy to distract yourself from your emotions with T.V., alcohol, drugs, gossip, and social media.

These distractions disconnect us from our true nature and only perpetuate our fear, anxiety, and other emotions that pull us farther from our joy. It is during my emotionally challenging times that I have found my practices and habits to be necessary. The very things I teach my clients to implement are vital to my wellbeing during emotionally challenging times. I will share what I do to get out of my head and pave a path to my heart.

1. Get Grounded & Meditate

The first thing I do to pave a path to my heart is move inward and center. I sit on my pillow, take deep cleansing breaths and root my booty to that soft cushion. I may place one hand on my heart, the other on my belly and breath deep and slowly. This alone calms me and brings me back to the present. I will do a short meditation or repeat a mantra. I stay here as long as I need to.

2. Journal/Self talk

After I meditate I get clarity on what I am feeling. Self talk or journaling supports me in processing my emotions and working through them. I also get what I call divine downloads for what I need to give myself to help me feel better. All in all, I am building up my tool box for future reference while deepening my understanding of myself.

3. Connect to My Inner Child and Play

This is so undervalued in our culture, yet one of the best things we will ever do for ourselves is connect to our younger self and get silly. Get silly and play alone or with a close friend. Just let go and let loose.

You can do something you always loved to do as a child or wanted to do as a child. You can sit quietly with yourself and ask, “What do I really want to do?” If you have an animal give them love and playful affection. If you have kids, try running around with them. Go nuts and forget about being the parent for a little bit. Accessing your own ways to play will connect you with joy immediately.

4. Help Someone

When we move out of our heads and into our hearts to help someone, we connect to so many things; love, purpose, service. Helping someone is a good kind of distraction. It brings you back to love. Anything from offering to listen and holding space for someone to volunteering your time or anything in between. There is no wrong way to help someone.

 

What ideas do you have to pave a path to your heart during challenging times?