By Chia Chia Cheng, Dip. NCCAOM, CNFM, L.Ac.
I’m having an existential crisis of sorts. Starting this week Costco, Whole Foods and New Seasons are requiring all customers to wear a mask while shopping.
I know California implemented this a month ago. In Riverside County where my folks live, people faced a fine of $1000 if they are caught in public without a mask on. That was when masks were in shortage. My friend made one by cutting his t-shirt. I’m glad I don’t live there.
I had a hard time with this move. Wearing a mask so that another person can feel at ease sharing the same space, that’s a courtesy like covering a sneeze or cough. I get that. I still felt uneasy. I realized that while I was critically aware of other people’s fear of sharing public space, I was experiencing fear myself.
What other rules are going to be put in place? What other laws will be passed in order to “keep us safe?” Living in a constant state of fear is not fulling living.
Whenever I feel anxious about the unknown, I return to what I know to be for sure. These four principles are from Steven Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.
To feel secure in a time of uncertainty, I turn inward for reassurance. Security represents your sense of worth, your self-esteem, your identity. I know I am on my path. I live each day with a clear sense of purpose. I know who I am. I know I want to be better through continued learning.
To feel I am on the right path, I check in with my goals. Guidance means your source of direction in life. I have in my vision certain goals I want to achieve, a lifestyle that I want to live, a way that I want to be. At each point I check in to see where I’m at. If I am where I want to be, heading in the direction of where I want to go, I know I have clear guidance.
To feel trust in myself, I call upon what I have learned. Wisdom refers to how you combine judgement, discernment and comprehension in order to arrive at a belief or hold a certain perspective. If I feel uneasy about something I check in with my community. If guidance is the road on which I travel, wisdom is what keeps me in my lane.
To live in a state of love and abundance, I remind myself that I am proactive. Power is the ability to act, to carry through with something and affect change, either in ourselves, a situation or others. Even though I cannot change other people’s experience of fear, I can be loving and exude abundance. Instead of judging them for their fear, I will express compassion while sharing space with them.
My favorite quote from Covey’s book is the following:
“In order to change your situation, you need to change yourself. In order to change yourself, you first have to change your perceptions.”
This is the power of the human brain. The ability to change how we think, how we see things and view ourselves in the abstract, is what makes us unique from other mammals.
Here are questions for you to ponder in terms of your mental and physical health:
- Why are you where you’re at? How did you get here?
- How long have you wanted something different for yourself?
- Where do you want to be?
- What are the obstacles currently in your way?
- What do you believe is within your power to change?
- What does that place of being look or feel like?
The last two questions are the most important. They require you to take responsibility for the change that you desire by participating in the creation of a different reality.
You may want change to happen faster than at the rate it’s occurring. Not necessarily because you don’t want to do the work. It’s more likely because you don’t like how you feel while waiting for change.
The way things should be is related to the values you hold. If you live according to your values, then you are more likely to accept the way things are. If you do not, you live in a world of “should,” where you do not experience your values in your everyday reality. The latter will tend to increase your daily discomfort.
Obstacles are 90% of beliefs of yourself or how others see you. What you believe you are capable of accomplishing, whether others view your choices as successes or failures. 10% can be attributed the attainable items, like time, money, and a failure proof plan.
- perceiving–what happened
- understanding–why did happened
- interpreting–how that affected me
I believe that when you take 100% responsibility for where you are at today, you will feel 100% capable of making change to improve your situation.
Changing what you put into your body is one thing that you have the ability to influence. Why not start here so you can feel empowered to live the life you want? Your mind and body will thank you.
It’s a good time to start the 21 Day Purification Program! Email me today to place your order [email protected]
Get a buddy to experience empowerment with you and receive 15% off each kit! Forward this email to 3 friends to remind them that there is power in their perceptions!
Be well. Stay connected.
