New attitudes and tools for dealing with uncertainty, impatience and a new normal

The ramifications of COVID-19 continue to be challenging even to the most flexible and patient among us. For those who believe that COVID-19 has never been “a hoax,” we wake up in the morning thinking, “Is COVID-19 finally over? Almost over? Could be over? Will be over? What is the CDC saying and not saying? What does anyone know for sure? What’s safe? Not safe? Can I travel? Can I believe in the vaccines, or are we just one big experiment? What do I believe? Not believe?

If you have thoughts like these, you are in good company. Uncertainty breeds unbridled anxiety. Impatience breeds impulsive decision-making. As an imperfectly perfect human being, intuitive life coach, author of four self-help books, and a “peace begins with me” educator, here are the user-friendly grounding tools I use to help me stay sane and centered - even when life is still feeling messy.

Breathe. Breathe for yourself and breathe for the healing of all humanity. When life still feels out of control and uncertain, (P.S. “When doesn’t it?”), return to basic tools for getting a grip again. Stop the world, place your feet firmly on the ground, uncross your arms, return to the

present moment, put your hand on your heart, and breathe long, slow and deep breaths. Even one minute of stopping the world and mindfully breathing will make a difference.

The subtle space between each breath. Consciously become aware of the space between each inhale and exhale. With each new breath, focus on unclenching your jaw and teeth, relaxing your neck and shoulders, unfurling your eyebrows, and releasing negative thoughts. With every inhale, think the words, “deep peace, let go and trust.” With every exhale, think the words, “deep peace, let go and trust.”

If you want to change your life, change your words. When my husband suffered a heart attack several years ago, we designed a positive affirmation together. I have the strength and the will to get through this. During COVID-19, we turned to this affirmation again. Power words convey to our subconscious and conscious mind that we can get through anything and everything. We can reduce our worries and fears by what we tell ourselves. Write your power words down, say them aloud, sing them, visualize your life as if your new mantra is already true, and most of all, believe these new messages. And remember … practice makes perfect.

The healing vibration of thought transference. Without getting too “woo woo” about this concept, I am a grounded advocate for the healing power of thought transference. When we activate the power of the mind and heart, vibrations of healing, strength and love are sent telepathically to those in emotional, mental, physical, or spiritual stress. The prayer I say every morning and every evening is “The Metta Meditation Prayer of Loving-Kindness:”

May I be happy. May I be well. May I be safe. May I be peaceful and at ease.

May you be happy. May you be well. May you be safe. May you be peaceful and at ease.

May we be happy. May we be well. May we be safe. May we be peaceful and at ease.

What did I learn about myself during COVID-19? What is the take-away? I am the founder and moderator of a large Facebook community called, “Shift of Heart,” and when I asked this question to the members, M.J. wrote: “Perhaps one of the biggest gifts of the pandemic has been the fact that my life has slowed down and I take time for the small things ... savor the taste, consider the words, enjoy the aroma, reflect on the beauty, live with intention. After receiving both vaccines, I feel the rhythm of life slowly beginning to increase. It’s worth reminding myself of the beautify of stillness.”

Journaling. Think about your life during COVID-19. What did you learn? What did you learn about yourself that you didn’t know before the pandemic? What new awareness and qualities do you want to carry into the “new normal?” What new attitudes and actions? Write down your thoughts and feelings and release anything that has been stirring inside you. As you think about the past year, begin to form positive visions for yourself and your life.

After the pandemic. Despite the urge to charge into the world full steam ahead, try to keep life even more simple than it was before the pandemic. Discern when to say no, and when to say yes; whom you want to be with, and whom you don’t; what errands are necessary, and when you need time-out for simply “being,” rather than doing. You’ve been through so much trauma. Give yourself compassion and love. Offer others these qualities, too. Falsified medications flood North American and European markets

We have been through the unimaginable, and it’s still not over. Use healing tools that can help you regain certainty in a world of uncertainty and patience when you want to burst out into the world with no filter. Above all, keep faith and remember that we can only control what we can control. Stay the course and keep your heart open and your eyes up towards the light of hope. It is never too late to notice the silver lining from difficult experiences. It is never too late to step into a new purpose, mission and dream for yourself and for the world. Little by little, we will get there.

Cheryl Melody Baskin www.cherylmelody.com

Author of Peace Dreamer: A Journey of Hope in Bad Times and Good

We are living through painstaking life challenges. We are also experiencing the possibility of shifting permanently towards personal and planetary healing and love. Each day, we learn the deeper meaning of the words, “unconditional love, trust, activism, truth, prayer, possibility, faith, forgiveness, respect, inclusion, empathy and compassion.” As we continue to live with the impact of COVID-19, the brutal murder of George Floyd and all those who came before him, poverty, racism, white privilege, Reverend Sharpton’s powerful message, “get your knee off our necks,” Black Lives Matter and multicultural peace protests, rubber bullets, tear gassing, looting, police officers on bended knee along with protestors, police brutality, and then the action of Mayor Bowser courageously painting BLACK LIVES MATTER on 16th Street NW … we remain steadfast in the possibility towards lasting positive change. As I write down each of these intense moments, I am overwhelmed with the ebb and flow of my own emotions and perhaps you feel overwhelmed, too. It’s to be expected. We are coming face to face with the good, bad and ugly within ourselves and with each other.

Because I have had the vision towards one community of love and peace my entire life, I continue to believe in the power of people to shift, grow and change, no matter how they conducted their lives moments before. We are living through a collective turning point that will serve as a compass for the trajectory of all our lives, and it is a moment in which we can taste positive change in the air. It is also a time that feels overwhelming. As an intuitive life coach, there are inner growth tools that may help you navigate your minute-by-minute changeable emotions while remaining solidly grounded, balanced and emotionally elastic. As we continue this journey of truth, change and hope…

Breathe and remain grounded. George Floyd was not allowed to breathe. His cry out loud to breathe is a call to our souls of the importance of this basic need. When we ourselves are anxious, our breath becomes shallow and we lose connection to our body. To maintain your chi or energy, it is vital to remain grounded and mindful of your breath. As you go through your day, consciously place both feet solidly on the ground and sense the energy of the earth supporting you. Feel the energy moving from the bottoms of your feet all the way up towards the crown of your head. Then, either standing or sitting, close your eyes and with your feet firmly planted on ground, inhale and exhale slowly. As you inhale and exhale, feel yourself inside every moment of every breath, and notice the space between each breath. As you become aware of each space between breaths, mindfully relax your body even more. Unclench your jaw and teeth, relax your neck and shoulders, unfurl your eyebrows, and continue to breathe. Breathe for yourself, breathe for all those who can no longer breathe, and breathe for the healing of our planet. Be present in this moment. Here. Now. This. Most of all, breathe in renewed energy, hope and miracles.

The healing power of words. Words matter and contain a palatable energy. As an author and songwriter, I am conscious of the power of each word that we think, sing, say, write and feel. In my daily life, I create and use positive affirmations to help me offset the unhelpful voices in my head. Here are examples of positive affirmations that are written in the present tense, as if they are already true and happening now.

“I have the will and the strength to get through this.”

“Love is my only path.”

“I have the power to change.”

“I am courageous, determined and strong.”

“I speak my truth with clarity, strength and love.”

“I heal myself and send healing to others.”

“I am my breath. I am love. I am enough. I am”

Visualization. This “healing from inside-out” approach works on your subconscious mind. Do you remember your ability to pretend, dream and imagine when you were younger? Return to the dreamer inside you now. Visualize healing, mutual understanding, peaceful conflict-resolution and possibility. What does it look like? What words do you hear and what actions do you see? Imagine possibility and feel it pumping through every one of your cells. Dream new dreams for yourself. Dream new dreams for all humankind.

With every thought, feeling and interaction, visualize a new world of love, peace and hope.

The healing medicine of nature. Uplift your spirit by taking slow sensory walks. Hear the birds, stand still and fall in love with a beautiful flower, hear the ocean waves in your mind’s eye or in real time, and look up at the unlimited expanse of the sky. Looking up at the sky will help you straighten your posture and pump the spirit of dreams and hope into your body, mind and spirit.

Humanity 101 List. We have many activities on our to-do list, but how about taking time to create a Humanity 101 list that returns us back to the basics of what it means to step into the highest version of ourselves? This list tap

s into the softer and more meaningful side of life. As you form your own list, here are a few ideas to inspire you ….

Love. Remember that all paths can lead to love.

Reach out. Become a beacon of light, inspiration and hope.

Give. Give without any expectations.

Good vibes. Aim for optimism. Wherever you go, spread the power of love.

Feel. Keep your heart open.

Backbone. Stand in your truth. Speak up. Give yourself an empowered voice.

Help. Do whatever you can to make this world a better place.

People. Listen, uplift and inspire.

Forgive. Open your heart to the healing that forgiveness can bring.

Awaken. Stay awake, aware, conscious and fully present.

Open. Give people a chance. Learn from people who are different from you.

Visualize. Picture your life as you would like it to be and picture the world as you would like it to be. Believe.

It may feel as if we are living through the story of Job from the Old Testament of the Bible. Our sorrow, exhaustion and fear may torment us day and night. Throughout it all, stand tall in your resilience, determination, survival instincts, strength and courage, and know that life’s challenges are not only a test of fortitude, but can help us grow and change for the better. Use inner growth tools to help you maintain a sense of grounded energy while going through the emotions of darkness and light. While becoming an inspirational change-maker and light-worker, continue to work on healing yourself. Above all, never give up. Breath by breath, each of us makes a difference and we have the power to create a world that offers one heart of unconditional love.

In every moment, stand for love, be love and shine love.

About Cheryl Melody Baskin

Cheryl Melody Baskin (aka Melody) channels her boundless creative and spiritual energy into a variety of endeavors, from practicing healing arts -- including music and sound healing -- to serving as a motivational speaker, an educator, an intuitive life coach, workshop facilitator and musician. She is the author of Heart-Dreamer: Stepping into Life, Love, Creativity and Dreams No Matter What (2019), Peace Begins with You and Me- A Musical Play with Life-Changing Messages for Every Generation (2020) and Shift of Heart - Paths to Healing in Love (2016). Follow her at: www.cherylmelody.com