10 things I know about…finding calm among the chaos

Find calm amongst the chaos with these great tips from Natalie Bartley from Stop Catching the Cat

We all know stress is not our friend. It can wreck our reproductive and nervous systems and make us sick. We also know that showing up calmer with our kids, at work, in our relationships, and for our own peace and purpose feels way better than showing up consistently cranky, overwhelmed, frustrated and fearful. But here’s the problem: most of us live fast-paced lives. We’re all juggling details, ‘to do’ lists, dramas and dilemmas. It feels hard to slow down, let alone stop. But if stressing less is so important (and it is), how do you we find calm among the chaos every day? Here are 10 things I know.

10 things I know about keeping calm among the chaos - a brilliant guest post by Natalie Bartley
1. You are not unique (and that’s a good thing). How many times have you secretly thought you’re the only one struggling, getting it ‘wrong’, failing, feeling flat, missing out, stuffing up, falling short? And how many times have you finally been brave enough to share your ‘shortcomings’ with a friend only to find they feel exactly the same way? I’ve finally got this truth: we’re all learning and growing—and that glamorous, glossy-haired girl beside you at school drop-off has just as many fears and issues as you do. We’re human. We’re messy. And if you can believe you’re not the only one struggling and be brave enough to tell your honest story, you’ll find we’re all in the same boat. Welcome aboard!
2. It can be damn hard to hop aboard the self-love train, but if we can, it will take us straight to calm. Self-love guru Louise Hay says most of our problems can be traced back to the (very common) beliefs of ‘I’m not good enough’ and ‘I’m not worthy’. We all have a long list of things we’d like to fix, finesse or completely change about ourselves. We all feel broken in places or ‘less than’ we think we should be (and it’s these things that stress us out, make us feel empty and dissatisfied, and leave us comparing ourselves to others). It’s one of the challenges of being human, and it can take a Herculean effort to reach a point of total self-acceptance and self-love—unless we approach it from a different angle, like this (also from Louise): “You don’t have to earn love any more than you have to earn the right to breathe. You have a right to breathe … because you exist. You have a right to be loved … because you exist. That is all you need to know.” I reckon that idea’s a diamond.

3. Our thoughts are powerful (and most of us forget this). These days it seems everyone has an e-course, a book, a theory, an idea for how to “fix” yourself—whether that’s what you eat, how you move, how you manage your time, how you make money, how you parent, and even who you are. In the self-help age, we can start to think we need much more help than we really do. But if we only ever focus on what’s ‘wrong’ with us, we’ll never see what’s right (and attract more of it). Try flipping your focus and see what happens. Tally up everything going right for you right now or jot down 10 terrific things about yourself each day. Pam Grout calls it “opening up your joy channels”. For me it’s like letting the sun shine in.
4. All our answers are within us. I’ve personally found the most peace in this idea: we’re all part of a greater energy. Some call it the universe, many call it God, others call it the Divine power or source, but basically it can be called love. Whatever you call it, the good bit is this energy isn’t outside of us, it’s within us—and it’s on our side. And, better still, this loving energy can guide us if we simply be still and ask. Try going within to find your answers (and a greater sense of completeness and love). And then try trusting what you hear. (I’m loving Dr Margaret Paul’s work on ‘Inner Bonding’ for this. Or check out how Gabby Bernstein describes it.)

5. Breathing is the best. Our breath can carry us straight to calm. Meditation and yoga take us into stillness and our heart-centred space of love and joy; mindfulness gently guides our attention into the present moment so we fully experience each moment (and truly live); and experts agree deep belly (or diaphragmatic) breathing is one of the best ways to regulate the stress hormone cortisol. Dr Libby Weaver says just five minutes of deep belly breathing every day is a powerful force for good health (learn how).

Find calm amongst the chaos with these great tips from Natalie Bartley from Stop Catching the Cat
6. We can’t push the flow of the river. I think it’s pretty common to have a love-hate relationship with acceptance and surrender. Most of us like being in control, and we like things a certain way (our way!). We push, we get impatient, we struggle. But to feel calmer, it can really help to accept what is in this moment and to surrender to the idea that most things we worry about have a way of working out (remember point 4). Then, we can start to loosen our grip on the reins and even slow that galloping horse of our lives down to an easy trot. 

7. Decluttering is a pain, but it works. I recently cleared out 10,000 emails from my inbox and felt like I’d had a week in Hawaii. Well, not quite, but it was a huge weight off my shoulders. Digital and mental clutter are just as bad as physical clutter. They all block the flow of energy in and around our home and our life, and weigh us down. Try setting the oven timer for 15 minutes and decluttering like mad for just that time. Or write a list of everything you’d like to clear out and simply make a start. Label boxes ‘keep’, ‘give away’, ‘sell’ and ‘toss’, and then tackle your clutter room by room. If you’re resisting, it can help to explore the root causes for your clutter (the psychological reasons we hold on to old possessions). I’m loving the book, Breathing Room right now).
8. Connect food and mood for you. Nutrition and wellness is a hot debate that I’m not qualified to enter, but it’s true that some of what we eat can make us feel less than spectacular, like foggy, bloated, jittery, or down. If you think your food might be affecting your mood, it’s worth exploring with some professional help.
9. Gratitude is your ‘get out of jail free’ card. You can’t feel grateful without feeling calmer, happier. Like attracts like, so the more gratitude you feel, the more you find to feel grateful about. Being grateful might also help us to see things are better than we thought. Next time you’re in a spin, stop and start mentally reciting all the big and small things you’re grateful for and I guarantee you’ll start to breathe easier. 

10. There’s no magic wand. I’ve been on a mission to find ways to be kinder to myself and calmer in the world, and I’m yet to find a magic wand. All of these pointers are a moment-by-moment proposition; a journey. Calming down and stressing less takes commitment, patience and practice. Life is always going to toss up crappiness and curveballs. The trick is in how we catch them.

 

Nat Stop Catching the CatHi, I’m Nat from Stop Catching the Cat. My blog began—literally—as a dream about a scratchy old cat. But, it took form as a salve for the stress of modern life. You see, I am not an expert in being calm. I am an often-overwhelmed mother of three small children who spends an extraordinary amount of time trying to figure out how to stay serene and predominantly peaceful so I can keep all the hats I need to wear balanced elegantly on my (often dishevelled) head.

I’m also a copywriter and editor with nearly 20 years of wordsmithing under my belt. I love words, I love writing, I love researching topics that I’m interested in (ok, obsessed with). Most of all, when I get a spare five minutes, I love trying to figure out how to use my mind and heal my body and organise my home so that joy and peace are my predominant emotions. Because I just want to feel better and move forward when the ‘to do’ list is long and the days are short and the patience is scant. I just want to find calm among the chaos. Don’t you?

Written By

Carolyn is the editorial director of Champagne Cartel and a freelance writer. In her spare time she is a long-distance runner, peanut butter enthusiast, and single mum to three incredible humans.

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