We see it, hear it and read it everyday. Stress is all around us. I hear all manner of people talk about it wherever I go. In myself I ask, how do I handle this, and what can I do to help people around me?

The first message I get when I open my feelings to asking the Great Spirit what I can do, is to understand that I must first be grounded, centered and willing to be more available for people in times of need. I can allow more feelings of compassion and patience, donate a good shoulder to lean on, an open ear to listen, and share how I see things without complicating the matter by putting in my fears. I realize that constantly talking about the problems I see creates more discomfort for people than any positive support I could be. When this happens my perspective and emotional reaction become a conditioned survival instinct acted out in the presence of fearful situations. In a sense, I talk myself into a panic. However, if I put my perspective glasses on a little bit differently, make a slight adjustment to the left and the right side, make sure they are nice and snug behind my ears, and wipe the lenses off for goodness sake, I can see that the disruptions around me are just instigators for change. Most changes are uncomfortable, and sometimes a little chaos is necessary in order to clean house, so to speak.

The wind howls and moans, and tears the leaves off the big mango tree in a huge rainstorm. If this mango tree hasn’t been bearing fruit for a while, the removal of leaves on the mango tree is nature’s way of telling it to grow new buds, so that again it can flower and bear fruit. In nature, this is just a normal process. And if we strive to create harmony and balance within ourselves, and within our environment, in essence, we are only following the laws occurring naturally in the Universe.

In my daily activities, when I feel a bit overwhelmed with the many issues and situations I encounter, the first thing I do is remind myself to breathe, and reset my posture so that I feel aligned, feeling a lift right though my spine and the top of my head. I then expand my point of awareness from being tunneled in on one specific subject matter, to the feeling of being able to see and feel 180º. When I relax and consider if I am in immediate danger or not, most of the time, I am not. Realizing that I am O.K. in the here and now, panic is put aside while my spirit is able to feel expanded.

We all like to feel in control of our attitudes, emotions and our physical reactions. We want to feel good, be healthy, financially secure, and have good relationships with others. We feel good when there is balance and hope. In the absence of harmony, I am reminded that there are lots of things I can do to change the way I feel and how I respond when in the eye of the storm. It helps me to get some bodywork, change my diet, practice quality family time, and practice some quiet time or meditation everyday. It doesn’t always work out the way I want however. As I keep my attitude available to change as water goes around stones in the river, hope and positive feelings help me feel good. When I feel good, I am more available to help others. It all follows a cycle. As long as I do these things in an unselfish way, I feel like I am sharing, and helping others feel the hope and light, even on the darkest of days.