We live in challenging and scary times. Gloom, fear, and anxiety permeate the atmosphere. You might rightly feel overwhelmed, sad, angry and fearful about what’s happening but you don’t have to be a helpless bystander. Yes, current events are cause for distress, but how you chose to react makes all the difference. In particular, your negative thoughts—especially repetitive ones—about what’s happening or what you fear will happen will not improve the situation and may even make it worse.
You can’t deny those thoughts and feelings that spontaneously arise when faced with difficult circumstances or threatening challenges. Stay present with your reaction, find where it dwells in your body and track the changes until you reach a peaceful state. I wrote about this technique in my October, 2024, newsletter, “Coping with a World in Crisis.” This month, I focus on how to handle those pesky thoughts that keep percolating after the initial event has passed. They’re old news but keep reverberating and upsetting you anyway.
Align yourself with universal love
One simple but powerful way to respond is to choose love. Whenever you recognize a recurring negative thought, forcefully declare, “I choose love.” Or “I align myself with the love in the universe,” meaning I choose to side with all that is good in the world. I will not be sucked into any negative feelings or thoughts.
The economy is tanking and I’m afraid—
I choose to align myself with the love in the universe.
Everything is falling apart—I choose love.
I feel overwhelmed—I choose love.
As you say these words, feel love surrounding you. In this way, you do not add negativity to the atmosphere. Instead, you align yourself with uplifting, positive energy, no matter what happens. The practice empowers you to act instead of react. You have a choice. You need not be mired in the overwhelm and fearful. Why not choose love?
Most likely, you’ll need to make this your mantra. Say this phrase—or one that appeals to you— whenever you notice a negative thought or feeling. But what could be better? You place yourself in an atmosphere of love most of the day. This not only helps you cope, but also brings more love into your life. You might find your heart spontaneously opens when greeting someone or feel compassion towards another who is upset or suffering. Eventually, you realize you are love.
Other techniques
I practiced a similar technique many decades ago when my then boyfriend broke up with me. I kept obsessively thinking how much I missed him. Instead of feeling sad when I thought of him, I decided to entrust him to a higher power each time my thoughts turned toward him. This way, I prayed most of the time and found him fading from my mind relatively quickly.
If you are a visual person, you might want to imagine light pouring down upon the earth, Washington, D.C., or other hot spots in the world. Alternatively, visualize yourself immersed in a ball of white light and on its surface a golden shield. Now imagine any negativity coming from outside bouncing off the shield and any negativity from inside burning up in the shield before it exits. Notice how you feel after you do these practices.
Why do you resist?
Is there a part of you at times that doesn’t want to choose love, light or higher reality? You may feel that if you think about how bad things are, you’ll be prepared for whatever comes. Rehearsing for catastrophe, however, can create the negative things you seek to avoid. When your heart and mind are overwhelmed by bad news, it is tempting to indulge in self-pity and become a victim.
Or maybe you resist turning everything over to the higher forces because you like scaring yourself. Why? Why do many love ghost stories, horror movies or Halloween? They can take you out of your complacency and make you feel alive.
A better way is to choose love, light, or prayer. These have a longer-lasting, more positive and empowering effect than a horror movie. Can you imagine what would happen if everyone chose a positive response when confronted with adversity? The atmosphere would significantly change for the better and this in turn would change what actually happens for the better.
