The Battle of the Mind During Difficult Times

Many of us were deeply affected by the tragedy in Minneapolis this past week due to the mass shooting of innocent children, as they sat in their church, attending worship at school. One of the byproducts of such a senseless act is the communal grief and heartbreak that is now shared among several demographics - the families, friends, staff, neighbors, and parishoners of Annunciation Church and School, the city of Minneapolis, as well as the greater and even universal communities of Americans, Catholics and all Christians, educators, and parents. Unfortunately, acts of horrific violence such as this also shine a spotlight on the reality that this world can be a very scary place. During times like these, that realization strikes fear and anxiety in many of us, and even plagues our minds with constant, worrisome thoughts. We feel out of control in the world around us and what dangers we could face on any given day. The fear that results can stop us dead in our tracks. But while we many not have control of all the things happening in the world, we CAN have control of our thoughts and mind and how we choose to react and respond in our daily lives. And that is a battle we can fight, and even win.

Whatever your belief system may be - call it the devil at work, call it negative energy, call it evil in humanity - in any case, it grows and relishes in its reach. Evil and negativity thrive on not only the pain that the direct impact of events like these cause, but on all the second and third order effects that ripple out from the nucleus. Just look at how something that happened in a community across the country can be occupying every thought and activating every fear within people all across the country and even the world. How something that happened to strangers that we don't even know can cause us to sob in heartfelt empathy. How the terror of an act states away can cause us to look over our shoulder and around every corner where we live. And evil is loving it. That is exactly what evil wants - to know no limit to its reach.

But we can fight back and choose to not let evil extend its reach into our minds. We can decide to not let ourselves be oppressed by anxiety and fear. We can stand up to the intrusive thoughts and lies that enter uninvited into our minds. We can focus our efforts on the things we can control, such as our thoughts, reactions, and responses, and let go of things we can't. We must...

Spending our lives imprisioned by anxiety robs us of the present moment. If our minds are occupied with worrying about things from the past, or things they may happen in the future, the present is simply passing us by, and we are missing it. We cannot live our lives walking around with an open umbrella, waiting for it to rain. Perhaps we can carry the umbrella, through conscious acts, education, and safe practices in our daily lives. But walking around with that umbrella open is not only heavy, cumbersome, and uncessary, it is also depriving us of the sunlight.

Taking on this battle of anxiety is not always an easy one. It may take lots of practice, support, and time. For many of us, it may be a lifelong battle. But we can continue to find ways to decrease fear and increase peace.

Here are some practices that can help reduce anxious thoughts:

• Focus on the facts. Weed out the lies, assumptions, or "what-ifs" that sometimes flood our minds. Facts ground us in reality and often break through the illusion of the fantasy our mind created.

• Remember that your brain is a story teller and loves its job. But there's a lot of fiction in that text. We need to focus on truths.

• Do not live vicariously in someone else's life. What happens to others (good, bad, or indifferent) and their truth is not necessarily what is intended or destined for you. Their life is their life. Your life is your life. Live YOUR life.

• Practice a thought release technique. Try writing your fears down on paper and then burn them. Or verbalize your fears into a bowl of water, and then pour it down the drain.

• Tune into your senses and direct your attention to the here and now. Sit quiety and name 5 things you can see, 4 things you can feel, 3 things you can hear, 2 things you can smell, and 1 thing you can taste.

• Implement breathwork - either on your own or in a yoga class, or better yet - BOTH! The breath is such an incredible and impactful tool in bringing calm and clarity to our minds.

• Say affirmations - repeat positive statements to yourself several times daily to rewire your brain into positive thinking and replacing fearful thoughts

• Double-down on prayer and/or meditation. I had a friend remind me recently that if I am to be a person of faith, then I need to have faith.

• Seek professional help. Speaking to someone is a great resource to help navigate anxious thoughts and patterns.

• Do not judge yourself for these negative thoughts and fears. We are human, doing the best we can in a difficult situation. Show yourself compassion.

Tragedy and pain are an inevitable part of life, but they do not have to define us. Let go of the things we can't control. Take back control of our thoughts to combat anxiety. Live our lives in light and truth. Use our communal grief as a source of comfort, strength, and healing for each other. Support one another during our lives so that we may ease the burdens for one another. And believe in the power of prayer and positive energy, especially as we carry the Annunciation Church & School community in our hearts.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it." - John 1:5.