Finding Instant Calm

We’ve all had those times in our lives when everything seems to go wrong. You keep trying to pick yourself back up and yet you keep falling back down.  It’s as if everything in your life seems to be conspiring against you.  You’re worried about money to pay the bills, your company is threatening a layoff, your car is making strange (and expensive sounding) noises. And one of your parents is sick. You feel like you’re barely able to come up for air. 

Where is your intuition in all this disaster that’s facing you?  Who has the time or the inclination to tune in and check out their inner wisdom in the midst a crisis?  It’s during these times of overwhelming stress that you most need your inner guidance to steer your life back to peace and tranquility. Your intuition is still there ready and willing to provide direction, but you may have to use a different set of skills to access it.

What you say to yourself during extremely stressful periods in your life can make all the difference.  I’m not suggesting sugar-coated affirmations here. There is nothing worse than affirming, "I am blissful, content and serene" when you’re anything but. Nor does saying, "I live in an abundant universe and have plenty of money" when you are barely putting food on the table. 

Try an experiment for just a moment. Bring to mind a stressful event in your life. Now close your eyes and say the words "I’m so overwhelmed!  What can I do?!" several times and with intense feeling. Then, with the same event in mind, say the words, "I’m open to new possibilities." Or "I know I’ll be shown the best way out of this situation." How do you feel?  Do you notice that the first sentence makes you feel shut down and anxious? The second and third statements probably made you feel open and hopeful, and produced an expectation of positive change. 

Your intuition is always there to guide you. It doesn’t leave you in the lurch when you most need it.  It doesn’t disappear from your life as soon as a crisis hits. I also know that it often feels that way.  We often speak of intuition as a "still, quiet inner voice,” but I wish there was a switch to turn up the volume on that quiet wisdom during times of crisis  We have such a cacophony of other inner voices vying for attention.  he voices we usually hear the loudest are the ones that say, "I’m scared.  I’m overwhelmed.  ‘m alone. Get me out of this mess!" Try the following exercise when you need to get through a difficult period.

Intuition Exercise: Calm Words During Times of Stress

Here are some phrases to use to help you feel calm, and open you to the guidance you need during times of stress. Feel free to mix and match any of them. Some of them may work for you and others won’t.  Use the statements that make you feel better and repeat them throughout the day.  You’ll find that if you do, you’ll be more receptive to hearing direction from Divine intuition and be more able to act on its wisdom to guide you to a peaceful resolution to the conflict you’re experiencing.

• "I know that I’ll feel better soon."
• "I am safe; surrounded and protected by a loving wisdom."
• “I’ve gotten through tough times before. I know I’ll get through this.”
• "I know that new doors to opportunity will open as I go through this transition."
• "I know that I have to let go of the old in order for the new to be born."
• "I am open and receptive to new avenues of abundance."
• "I am guided through this day.  I know that I will make the right choices."
• "Good will come out of this situation.  I need to be patient as it unfolds."
• "I have control over my thoughts and right now I am choosing to feel peace, not fear."
• "My life is unfolding in new ways.  Things will get better."

You may want to consider putting the statements on post-it notes in locations where you’ll see them often. For example, place them on the wall above your desk, on a mirror, in your wallet, by your bed, or on your refrigerator. And remember… things have a way of working out.

What about you? Do you have a favorite phrase you use during times of stress?