How to Stay Centered and Grounded As COVID Restrictions Lift

NOTE: If you have already read the blog on “How to Stay Centered and Grounded During COVID Restrictions”, know that the information in this blog is similar but modified slightly to address the concerns of those who are anxious about the restrictions being lifted. However, we recommend revisiting the meditation as it can be practiced to help you center and ground in various applications.

Introduction

Some people cannot wait until the COVID restrictions are lifted. Others are pretty anxious about the COVID restrictions being lifted and the associated uncertainty.

At Spirit Tree, we support everyone's right to feel how they feel and think the way they are thinking. What is right for one person may not be suitable for another. We are here to support people through spiritual growth regardless of political or other potentially polarizing beliefs. We do not try to convince anyone to take a particular position.

However, if you feel anxious about the world opening again, this blog has been written specifically for you as we want to support people when they need it. If you hold an opposite position, this blog may help you understand what others are going through and provide an opportunity for you to be compassionate and hold space for others even if they do not share your beliefs.

Change Model and Discussion

Anytime a change outside of our control is introduced into our lives, we typically go through a process. It could be the death of a loved one, a failed relationship, layoffs at work, or as of 2020, the introduction of COVID into our lives. There are several change models available on the internet. Similar but different, they all illustrate that we go through a process when change occurs outside of our control. A generic change model is listed below but feel free to find other change models online:

1. Surprised or caught off guard by the change
2. Denial of the change
3. Reaction to the change, i.e., anger, anxiety, sadness, etc. (we are all different, so there is a rainbow of possible emotions here)
4. Resistance to the change
5. Experience dealing with the change
6. Acceptance of the change

At any given moment, different people are at different stages within the generic change model. We will focus on Steps 3 and 4 listed above as these are the stages where people experience the most pain (for those who may be feeling uncertain about the lifted restrictions).

Know that whatever reaction/feeling you are having to the lifted restrictions, it is okay. Accept that you are feeling anxious, sad, angry, etc. If you cannot accept that you feel anxious, sad, angry, etc., then accept that you cannot accept that you are feeling angry, sad, anxious, etc., and work from there! There is nothing wrong with the way you are feeling. If anything, you can get curious as to why you feel that way without judging yourself.

It is important not to compare our reactions to how others react; otherwise, we will quickly find fault with ourselves. From a material perspective, people tend to notice what others have, not what they do not have, and they focus on what they do not have instead of what they do have. From an emotional perspective, we do the same thing. We notice how others have things under control without realizing we have no idea what is actually happening in that person's mind (even if you did know, it would not be helpful because everyone is unique and has different reference points, backgrounds, and experiences).

When we experience resistance, know that it is simply a reaction to wanting something to be different than it is. We basically have two choices here:

1. We can do something about it, or
2. Accept the change

If you cannot do anything about it, then the strategy is to work towards acceptance. If you cannot accept the change, you can choose to take conscious action (action in the best interest of all). If you take conscious action but are stuck in the same place, it is time to go back to acceptance. What if you cannot act or accept the change? We have provided a grounding meditation below to help with that.

How Does this Relate to the Restrictions Being Lifted?

The COVID restrictions are being lifted worldwide to the excitement of some and the alarm of others. Across Canada, many provinces have communicated their re-opening plans in the last few days. Everyone will return to a new normal, but what does that mean? (the normal of yesterday is gone...because it was yesterday!) You may have felt safe at home during the restrictions, whether you are working or are retired. You might be an introvert and have relished your time to yourself. Maybe you are concerned about how many people might get sick once the restrictions are lifted, are worried that you might get sick, or pass on COVID to someone else.

If these are your concerns (or others), remember that worrying about things outside your control is fruitless...because it is outside your control. If you do what you can (inside your control), then that is all you can do, and the rest is beyond your control. That being said, you might still be feeling upset about the changes that are happening. It is normal to feel resistance to change if you do not want it to happen. Remember to refer back to the generic change model listed above to understand where you are in the change process. Then you can either try to accept how you feel (or accept that you cannot accept how you are feeling) or take conscious action. The following section includes the meditation mentioned earlier in this blog. If you have any questions or need additional support, please feel free to reach out to us. A Spiritual Coaching session is available to support you through these, what may be for you, challenging times.

A Simple Practice to Help Us Stay Centered and Grounded

How about a meditation to help you stay centered and grounded so you can move towards or even beyond acceptance of change? I provide more detail to my clients in our coaching sessions, workshops, and retreats, but for this blog, here are the simple steps:

1. Find a comfortable and quiet place to meditate
2. Sit in a chair (or on the ground cross-legged with an erect spine) (relax your body)
3. Close your eyes
4. Deepen your breath and inhale through your nose
5. Exhale out from your nose or mouth (as thoughts arise, return your awareness to your breath without trying to change it)
6. Visualize large roots coming out from the bottom of your feet (or base of the spine if you are sitting cross-legged)
7. See in your mind's eye the roots moving to the center of the earth (may take some time!)
8. When the roots touch the center of the earth, thank Mother Earth for helping support you during this time of change and know there is a bigger picture where life is happening for us (not against us) and supporting us to grow
9. Know that you are centered, grounded, and supported. You can carry this with you throughout your day
10. When feelings of anger, anxiety, etc. come up, remind yourself that you are grounded and if they continue, make peace with the feelings and do the meditation again

The meditation should take between 5-15 min. The key is to slow down and deepen your breath while feeling support. If this sounds too abstract, I encourage you to try it and see how you feel. You may be happily surprised and grateful to yourself for taking this leap of faith.

Conclusion

As you can see, the generic change model can be applied to how some may be feeling about the COVID restrictions being lifted. The same model, discussion, and meditation provided above could also have been used to stay centered and grounded while dealing with COVID restrictions when they were first introduced (which is why we shared this in a previous blog once the website was completed).

Even if, at this time, you do not subscribe to this belief, know that if we as human beings do not take care of each other during times of need and crisis that there is a ripple effect that eventually comes back to you. None of us are isolated from what is happening around the rest of the world. COVID is an excellent example of that. A virus that emerged from one part of the world has affected every corner of the globe. The good news is love and support can also spread around the world but at an even faster pace.

Much love and peace to you, wherever you are and however you have been affected by COVID. We are one, and we are in this together!

If you still have questions about how to manage your emotions or are drawn to discovering and exploring your spiritual self through spiritual coaching, then we suggest booking a session with us today (we also offer workshops and retreats). There are One-On-One Spiritual Coaching Introductory Specials (available on the "Book Online" page) to help you get started on your journey. For more information, please check out our services page or book your introductory coaching session today on our "Book Online" page, as we have some special offers available for a limited time.