This post shares five strategies for staying connected to Source during trying times.
Table of Contents
Caregiving as quarantine
Since 2016, I have been in a state of quarantine, to a greater or lesser extent. In the spring of 2016, my daughters became ill, and I became a full-time caregiver from that time forward. Much of my book chronicles this journey, and so I won’t go into detail about that now. But having experienced quarantine, I’ve realized there are many benefits to having the time and space to go inward. As my world became smaller by degrees, I began a regular meditation practice, set a daily schedule to get the self-care I needed, and learned to connect with my spiritual helpers.
There are many hard things about being stuck at home, and one is the fear of contracting COVID-19. I don’t want to minimize the many difficult things that are happening. But I do want to suggest a few tools I have found helpful during quarantine.
Five strategies for staying connected to Source
Here are five strategies for staying connected to Source during the Covid-19 crisis, and beyond:
1. Get outside
Spend time outside in nature– At least 30 minutes per day is best. Take a walk, sit in your yard or garden, or open the window. Studies show that outcomes from past virus outbreaks were significantly better for those who were treated outside or spent time outside regularly. The sun is literally healing! Being outside also strengthens your immune system, lowers stress, and helps you get out of your head. Exercise also reduces cortisol levels and helps us be more resilient.
2. Go inward
Schedule time with Spirit. We are being given a great gift now during this time of self-isolation, to slow down, go inward, and cultivate a connection with Spirit in new ways. If you’ve been hearing messages to start a spiritual practice, to meditate more, to connect with your ancestors, or whatever, now is the time to begin. Your time and energy are more spacious now because we are all driving around less, working at home, and doing fewer things. It doesn’t take much effort to connect with Spirit. In fact, the best way to make progress is to do just a little each day. It adds up. The important thing is to set the intention to cultivate a connection with Spirit and to show up every day. And go ahead and meditate!
3. Use the power of the breath
Breathe. Take three deep breaths right now. Deep breathing tones the vagus nerve, which is critical for immune health and stress reduction, while oxygenating our cells for optimum function. See pp. 66-69 in my book Sacred Self-Healing for breath practices.
4. Connect with what uplifts
Connect with what is uplifting. It’s easy to become depressed by the negative news. Make a point of watching uplifting videos, listening to positive audio recordings, messaging friends, and listening to music. Check out the Daily Good and others who provide uplifting content to your inbox daily. Focus on the positive messages coming during this challenging time. For instance, the planet is being given a chance to heal because carbon emissions are down. We are being given the opportunity to connect more with the people we love and to focus on what matters the most.
5. Budget your energy
Use your energy wisely. If you are an empath, you are going to pick up others’ negative energies at the grocery store, from the news, and from other people’s anxiety in the world. Be judicious about when you go grocery shopping. If the parking lot is full, come back at another time. Monitor how you feel after interacting with others and use the “Negative Energy Clearing Process” in my book on yourself and on your home regularly. If you think you are trapped within negative energy, get outside or take a bath.
Intention
The Sacred Self-Healing Method relies on the power of intention. Intentions are more than goals; they are your co-creative participation in your life path and healing. By setting an intention, you add your desire to be a partner in your destiny, in combination with the seen and unseen forces at work in the Universe. Whether you are setting an intention for a successful root canal, a great new job, or a business meeting to go well, the act of putting forethought into the outcome of the process can be a powerful tool.
Intention is the driving force behind any energy healing modality, from Reiki to sound healing to prayer.
The universal equation for healing is:
Intention + Frequency = Healing
The “frequency” part of the equation is whatever healing modality is being used.
Intention can be used for health and healing, job searches, fitness, relationships, and pretty much everything.
This post has more information on the power of intention.
The bucket theory
The bucket theory simplifies understanding symptom reactions with MCAS. Imagine your body as an empty bucket you don’t want to overflow. Reactions to various stimuli fill the histamine bucket at different rates, forming the total histamine level (how full your bucket is). More histamine means more symptoms. By managing triggers, reducing exposures, and taking medications and supplements, you can control your bucket’s level.
Know your typical symptom progression
Understanding your symptom progression during a flare is key to developing your rescue plan. This post discusses how to recognize symptom progression so you can be prepared to address them.
Get my free ebook, symptom log, and meal plan!
Want a tool to easily track your symptoms?
Check out these circadian health tools!
I’m an affiliate with Bon Charge, a company that makes tools for circadian health, and you can receive 15% off your order with my coupon code BETSYL.
Bon Charge offers tools such as yellow– and red-tone blue-blocking glasses, red light therapy devices, PEMF mats, infrared saunas, and EMF-blocking products.
Sign up for the SSP!
I’ve found the Safe and Sound Protocol (SSP) to be the most helpful bottom-up healing strategy if your nervous system has been overloaded with toxic exposures, including mold or non-native EMFs, chronic infections, concussions, stress, or trauma. The SSP is a passive listening therapy based on Polyvagal Theory that helps heal nervous system dysregulation. Many people with MCAS and other chronic conditions have nervous system dysregulation stemming from infections, toxic exposures, concussions, and trauma. The SSP is an easy-to-use app that lets you listen to specially filtered music for 30 minutes each day as part of a 5-hour cycle. Studies show the SSP has a profound effect on mental health and chronic conditions. Here’s a short podcast describing the Safe and Sound Protocol.
You can sign up for the SSP here!
Heal your mind!
While the SSP is a bottom-up, somatic therapy for healing the nervous system, the Sacred Self-Healing Method I offer is a top-down nervous system-healing modality that focuses on cognition, attention, perception, and emotion, using the mind’s higher functions. The SSP and the Sacred Self-Healing Method complement each other and together produce lasting results. Here’s a short podcast on my self-healing practice.
I provide one-on-one in-person and remote chronic illness and caregiver coaching, as well as Sacred Self-Healing Sessions based on the Sacred Self-Healing Method, a proven, novel co-creative healing modality detailed in my Books.
Order my books!
Here’s a short podcast highlighting my five books.
My latest book, Living In The Light: Healing with Forgiveness, Sound, and Light, is all about the tools that have been most helpful for me to heal: forgiveness, sound, through nervous system retraining using the Safe and Sound Protocol, and light, through entraining my circadian rhythm with the energy of the sun. Living In The Light is available here!
Rocks and Roots chronicles my solo backpacking journey on the Superior Hiking Trail and my efforts to overcome nervous system dysregulation, gut dysbiosis, and Mast Cell Activation Syndrome symptoms to complete the 328-mile hike successfully.
The Sacred Self-Healing Method ebook is available here and in most ebook retailers!
The Sacred Self-Healing Workbook is available for purchase here!
Betsy’s first book, Sacred Self-Healing: Finding Peace Through Forgiveness, is available here
Companion Recordings
The companion audio recordings of chants, guided meditations, and sound healing demonstrations that accompany the Sacred Self-Healing Method are available for free on my YouTube channel here
What do you think?
I’d love to have your reply below!
Disclaimer
The preceding material does not constitute medical advice. This information is for information purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, cure, or treatment.
