[ChrisL]

Elucidate, Rezzy and Everyone - This might sound a bit strange, but it can be easy right now to stay stuck in a certain mood/thought. It's kind of like being on drugs. We can have a repetitive thought/emotion (like hopelessness, wanting to withdraw) that can seem to perpetuate itself. In a way, it can feel like being on a bad "trip".

Things that might help:

• Don't do your usual routine - find a way to do something different, or at least do what you need to do in a different way. (i.e. use your left hand instead of your right) This will shift your neural netways and your perspective.

• Talk with someone (i.e. friend, coworker) who has a very different perspective that feels empowering based on their personal experience, not just a belief.

• Actually physically go to a different location than what you're used to. If you usually stay in your home, go into nature, go to a celebrative social gathering where you can laugh or at least see things from a different perspective..

• Do something physically that will shift your internal pharmacology. Specifically, to get chemicals like endorphins and oxytocin more present in your system through working out, laughing, cuddling/having sex, sports, etc. Having deep intimate relationships is so important right now.

• Like Laks suggested, be kind and loving to yourselves. Treat yourselves like you would treat your child or partner, giving yourself whatever you need.

• Make a list of your resources/support and consciously use them, internal and external. Positive resources can include things like: going for a walk in nature, playing sports, taking a hot bath, getting a massage, laughing, painting, playing music, dancing, deep intimate discussion with someone we trust, getting a hug - the list goes on. We typically have all kinds of resources at our disposal and we don't use them. Now is the time!

• If we're in a traumatic reaction, then it can be literally impossible to "think" our way out of it. Why? Because when we're in the Fight/Flight mode, our consciousness shifts to the Primal brain which is responsible for movement. When we're feeling safe again, we shift back to the Frontal lobe of the brain which can think.
  If we're feeling traumatized, out of it, numb, or on the reverse side, feeling too reactive, hyper-alert, then doing some basic movement can help us feel safe and able to think again. Some grounding techniques to get clearer include: stomp your feet on the ground, feel your lower body with your hands, stand up and stretch out really big to take up more space (this helps us feel like we're not a child but in an adult body), push hard against a wall/tree/ something solid (this is like setting a boundary and saying no).

• When you're feeling up to it, take a look at any limiting beliefs, self-negating thoughts, conflicting emotions, unresolved trauma. Typically unresolved trauma (movement that wanted to happen but didn't) and relational issues (positive core beliefs that never got integrated like "I can ask for what I want", "I'm safe", "I can express myself", "I can be myself and be in relationship") are layered on top of each other, each affecting one another. Get some professional help if you need it. Don't try to go through something like this alone if it feels too debilatating, addictive, overpowering.

• This one is inspired from Space's post below - Consciously ask your guides for help, out loud. State what you want as if you already have it (i.e. "I'm grateful to receive ______"). Our guides are always here to help. If we are asking or offering prayers, then a sing-song pattern works the most effectively. Listen to Bobby McFerrin's version of the 23rd Psalm to get an idea of this - "The Lord is my Shephard, I have all I need, She makes me lie down in green meadows...". If you're old school Catholic then you already have an idea of it.