“Loneliness does not come from having no people about one, but from being unable to communicate the things that seem important to oneself, or from holding certain views which others find inadmissible… The pendulum of the mind oscillates between sense and nonsense, not between right and wrong.”
― C.G. Jung
How does one maintain a sense of balance and connectedness at times when the world feels so overwhelming?
Beyond the endless reports of senseless shootings, political abuses, amidst the drop in markets, beneath the business of daily life and through all the mergers, dissolutions and acquisitions… there is a stillness and a peace that is attainable and some might say, essential, to thrive in this modern world.
Sometimes, however, these elements of our global experience can lead us to feel overwhelmed and even terribly alone.
It can come upon us like a roaring freight train or quietly creep up when we are distracted by other things.
Maybe you have felt something like this in your life?
It isn’t always easy to keep one’s healthy sense of Self safe and protected from the flotsam that inevitably bumps into our consciousness on a daily basis especially in this day and age of absolute interconnectedness.
One might say “I don’t watch the news” or “I’ll only read romance novels” yet challenges to our peace and calm inevitably take place. Eventually an image of a HazMat clad nurse or a child waving an ISIS flag gets lodged in your mind… Then what?
Maintaining a durable, tested and reinforced tool box of healthy responses to stress and anxiety can be one of the most important things we do to maintain a sense of equilibrium on our journey.
Perhaps you do yoga? A little meditation on your lunch break? Time at the gym or on the bike path? Or, perhaps you read a book, listen to music, journal or take a walk. There are things we do constantly that create a sense of balance (many of which are unconscious or automatic) and keep us moving through life without falling over from the weight of the world.
And still… sometimes…we need more.
One of the benefits of working together in the counseling office is that we raise awareness when it comes to our natural and often unique coping skills. We identify what works well and also shine a light on those practices that might chip away at our balance and even add to our sense of isolation and loneliness.
Many of us unconsciously resort to “default” behaviors when we are stressed or emotionally triggered that can actually add to anxiety, fear and depression rather than alleviate suffering. Sometimes having a little help along the way can make a huge difference when it comes to creating the life we truly desire.
While it is highly unlikely that we will soon find a cure for the Ebola Virus or come up with a plan to eradicate radical extremism from the planet we can surely explore healthy responses and effective coping mechanisms to deal with the emotional and psychological toll these and similar stresses have upon us each and every day.
Sometimes just knowing we are not alone and that there are resources at our disposal is just what we need in order to reinforce our sense of control in the world.