Branches Seeds

The winds of chaos have a funny way of trapping us, of holding us captive in a state of heightened fear. Most of us are not living in the wilderness where we need to be on guard for physical risks to our well-being, so what are we afraid of? Many times, the feelings we have in the midst of chaos are tied closely to a fear of the unknown. 

When things are in a continuous state of flux where we do not know what to expect from one day to the next, where we are unsure of how the people we interact with will respond to us, our bodies learn to prepare for the worst-case scenario. Internally, we ready ourselves to withstand the storm because we fear we will be destroyed if we are caught off guard, but being on heightened alert for extended periods of time takes a toll on us both physically and mentally. Our physical bodies can become exhausted from the high levels of cortisol pumping through us, and our mental health can begin to suffer. We may carry that heightened state of fear with us into various facets of our lives resulting in strained relationships and symptoms of stress and trauma. 

Part of what makes chaos and fear of the unknown so scary is that they are often related to things that are outside of our control. If we could control them, we would probably not be battening down the hatches to brace against the storm. Now the question becomes, how do you handle chaos when it is outside of your control?

The answer may be to find your centering point. In dance, this is referred to as “spotting.” It is curious that ballet dancers do not appear to get dizzy despite their frequent turns, spins, and pirouettes. Dancers will select a spot far out in their field of vision and focus on this one spot. As their body turns, their head turns, and their eyes return to that same spot. This helps to keep them from becoming off balance or disoriented. 

I encourage you to think deeply for a moment about what that centering point or “spot” might be for you. When you think of feeling calm or centered, what is the thing (place, activity, etc.) that comes to mind that you can trust to be reliable, that you know will help you to regain your balance in life time and time again? It may be spending time in a natural setting, walking, writing, music, exercise, the list is endless. When you feel yourself getting swept up into the chaos, make a date with yourself to return to your centering point, even if only for ten minutes. Carving out this time can help you regain your balance and remind yourself that the fear that chaos brings is more manageable than you thought.  

If you want help on your journey, feel free to click the button below to reach out to a Branches therapist.