Headlines and Headaches
Photo by Daniel Salcius on Unsplash
I’ve written before about the dangers of the online world as it relates to limbic system dysfunction and mystery illness. While screens, in general, are known to suck the life force from us, spending too much time watching the news or scrolling social media places our power in the hands of all the other “experts” out there. And the current pandemic is the ideal time for those experts to tempt us away from trusting our inner knowing.
Even though I’m well aware of how much of an impact this steady stream of pandemic information can have on my nervous system, I haven’t been able to shut it out completely. I’ve found myself drawn to a handful of themes amidst this life-changing time—namely, the clean-up naturally taking place on our planet as quarantine forces us to limit daily harm; the plans for (potentially mandated) testing, vaccines, and longer-term social distancing measures; the impact of this global shut-down on the daily lives of families and communities outside my little privileged bubble; and the abundance of misinformation the media is feeding to us on a silver platter. These themes matter to me, and as much as I would like to close myself off to the chatter of the world, I find that I’m drawn to these narratives daily.
So how can I merge the two—this physical health need to distance myself from fight-or-flight-inducing communications and the social desire to be involved in the monumental changes taking place on Earth right now?
I can check in with myself. I can sit still and turn to my inner guidance, my inner compass, whenever I feel my power slipping away. This loss of power feels manic. It feels like pounding in my chest or a tightness in my gut, a headache pushing down on my eyelids, or heaviness in my body forcing me to lie down and rest.
We all have warning signs that speak to us through our physical bodies when we’re straying from our truth or giving away our power. The problem is, we often push those signals away. They tend to feel like a distraction from the current mission—scrolling social media, watching the news, or debating with family in an attempt to find clarity. I’ve found that those actions can serve me at times. They can even fuel me as I see images of the clear sky in LA, or read something that opens my eyes to the pain that victims of domestic abuse are enduring, or personally fact-check an enticing headline that I uncover was misleading. As long as my body doesn’t alert me, then I continue on my path.
We all have warning signs that speak to us through our physical bodies when we’re straying from our truth or giving away our power.
However, when I do feel the discomfort of my body’s whispers, I’ve learned (through years of self-awareness practice and overcoming my stubbornness!) to take notice.
I spent the day with a family member discussing the all-encompassing world events this weekend and checked in with my body multiple times. For the most part, I felt calm energy as we shared stories, current research, and our respective opinions. At one point, though, I noticed my head get foggy and a sense of vertigo begin to set in. Though we seemed to be on the same page, the discussion had gotten political. I could feel that what I was saying was no longer founded in my deepest truths. I was beginning to speak outside my full integrity to keep the conversation cordial. I was lying to myself and her, and my body noticed. While I certainly didn’t want to argue or create confrontation—that wasn’t the answer—I also knew I couldn’t continue. Solution? Segue into another subject. Change the conversation. Find common ground again. Common ground between what I was saying and what I truly believed at my core. My truth.
Art by @artby_mb
It was that easy. I was back on track, and my body released its foggy grip on me. My body is my compass. For years I shied away from activities and conversations that could stimulate my sympathetic nervous system in an effort to bring balance to a hypervigilant limbic system that was creating dis-ease in my body. Now I’m healed, though. I CAN engage both sides of my autonomic nervous system. I just need to be mindful of doing so in a way that allows me to come back into balance when my body whispers its warning signs. I no longer have to succumb to its screams for my attention.
If we’re willing to partner with it, our body can serve as the inner compass that allows us to remain in our integrity. We can read the headlines and notice the headaches, one of many potential warning signs that we’re handing our power to someone outside of us.
Be sure to check out my previous posts about finding peace and calm during this coronavirus:
Family Confinement Tips From Parents Who Know: Part I
How to Recognize Hidden Fear Amid a Pandemic
8 Body & Mind Tools to Bring Calm in the Face of Fear
Please share these posts with others. We could all use a daily dose of heart-lifting and health-inspiring media. 🦋
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