I don’t care how good you have it, or how wealthy you are, or how much abundance you have. Some days just suck and you feel like shit. There’s actually science behind this – your lizard brain can’t tell if you are being chased by a tiger or if you’ve just spent too much time watching the string of horrible news that seems to infiltrate American life.
I have a friend who does card readings. I take her yoga class on Saturdays and she ends each session with an oracle card pull. This was my first exposure to this and I’ve always kind of chalked it up to reading my horoscope. It’s fun, but I don’t put too much stock into it. But I must say, these cards have been remarkably relevant and timely over the past several weeks, including the one pictured here.
The pandemic, and probably pre-pandemic if I am being honest, has put me into a cycle of revolving shit brain. I look around and I recognize all of the the things that I have – a loving husband, an adorable pup, a nice house, and enough money to live comfortably. Yet, some days, I am just fucking miserable. Of course, this then brings on the feelings of guilt. How dare I feel this way when I have so much? How dare I be such a shitty person when there is true suffering in the world. What a fucking asshole!
There are two antidotes that I have found for this…
- name and tame
- gratitude
Naming and taming has become easier since I began a meditation practice. It’s a good trigger to go into meditation when I am feeling shitty, because it allows me to examine why. It usually comes down to three things…
- I’ve been staring at my screen for too long, trying to process too much information.
- I’ve been watching the news or some sort of violence on TV
- Someone has triggered me – this happens easier than I would like.
Despite all this, the most important action to take is one of gratitude. Each evening, before I go to sleep, I write down 5 good things from the day. Things or people I am grateful for. Good things that have happened that day. Even the days that I feel like shit, the days that I am fucking miserable, I make myself do this. It’s powerful. It gives perspective. It really makes me appreciate everything – finding socks without holes, a good cup of coffee, a hot shower, someone who said something nice.
Remember that it may be hard to understand our misery. But gratitude is something we all can do!
