How to Cope When Chaos Hits

‘Don’t let external chaos destroy your inner peace of mind.‘ – Debasish Mridha

But how to Cope When Chaos Hits, you may ask.

Amidst the overwhelming suffering and the profound bewilderment at how humans can inflict such pain on one another, life still demands to be lived.

Yet, the weight of grief, disbelief, profound desperation, anger, and fear can be overwhelming, etching their presence in your heart.

In moments like these, it’s all too tempting to shut off the news and feign detachment, convincing yourself that these troubles are distant and that such is life, prompting you to simply carry on.

It might be necessary at times, but hardening your heart can never be a helpful solution in the long run.

I say this because that form of protection is an illusion. It doesn’t protect you at all, because when you close your heart for the suffering, you also close it for the beauty and love.

Our heart doesn’t function like a sieve. It either takes it all in, or shut it all out.

So how can we soften our hearts and still have the capacity to bear witness to the suffering around us, without being overcome by the darkness.

Here are a couple of ideas that can help you cultivate inner balance, without blocking out the reality of how things are:

1. To begin, allow yourself to embrace grief wholeheartedly, with compassion, and all the love and care you’d give to an open wound. You’ll recall the reality of common humanity, that suffering is part of life, and that you’re not alone in this.

2. Always remember to embrace the full spectrum of life’s experiences. Look beyond the shadows, the darkness, and the fear, and you’ll discover glimpses of beauty and kindness.

It’s in those moments where friends embrace in comforting hugs, where a strain cat is being fed by a stranger, where another tree is being saved from being cut down, a new baby is born, or a butterfly lands on your hand.

These pockets of compassion and beauty exist all around us. In your community or even in far-off refugee camps, people are volunteering their time and effort to make the world a better place, one selfless act at a time.

3. Keep pursuing your passions, those activities that ignite your soul. In a world filled with chaos and uncertainty, immersing yourself in drawing, music, movement, or any form of self-expression is an act of self-care and preservation.

ALSO READ: How to heal from the body up with somatic approach

It’s not selfish to savor life’s pleasures, even amidst the suffering that may surround us. In fact, by nurturing your own joy, you can become a source of inspiration and positivity, helping to uplift those around you who are facing difficult times.

4. Connect with nature, feel the solid ground beneath your feet, lean against a strong trunk of an oak tree, and be receptive to the messages that nature is offering you. It holds you safely, cradling the suffering without denying the beauty of life.

Rest assured that things change, they have for as long as the world exists, and that this moment, too, shall transition into the past.

5. Ask for a hug. Give a hug. It can be that simple to feel connected with others, to receive and offer all the support that’s needed. We aren’t meant to do it all by ourselves.

There is no right or wrong way to tend to our pain.

In this crazy world, we discover that our capacity for compassion and resilience knows no bounds.

By nurturing our inner peace and staying attuned to the world’s realities, we become a source of light and hope when everything else is falling apart, inspiring others to embrace the fullness of life.