Let's start by relaxing, taking deep breaths and closing our eyes for a moment. Let's send heartfelt energy, healing, and prayers to everyone around the world, giving attention to those who are struggling with COVID- 19 and to those whose loved ones have passed away as a result of it.
Surround yourself with Divine guidance now. I am sending prayers to you as you navigate through this difficult time.
Many of us have questions about the disease and have been inundated with information. We question what to believe and what not to believe, how this will affect us and what we can do to keep ourselves and loved ones safe. We question where this is leading us, why this is happening and how it will affect every part of our lives in the short and long term.
Last week one of my client's posed this question to me, "What is this all about from a psychological and spiritual perspective?" I thought it an excellent question. She asked me to tune into Divine guidance and her recently deceased sister for answers and perspective.
She is not alone with her question. Many of you have asked for a broader and deeper meaning and are searching for insight on how to move forward during this time.
What I gathered from Divine guidance as part of the answer to her question is that one of the things we are wrestling with is our strong desire to control in the face of uncertainty at a time when so much is out of our control. We experience stress and anxiety over many things that we can't do anything about.
At the core of stress is fear and when we are afraid, as we know, we typically experience a fight, flight or freeze response. Our prefrontal cortex literally shrinks. Under stress we can become paranoid, our vision skewed and impaired, and perceived threats limit our ability to see possibilities and find solutions.
We often push harder, force our opinions and objectives, and become argumentative, or go the other direction and become passive, avoidant, and helpless. We tend to make erratic decisions as the pressure rises to regain our sense of control. Sometimes we freeze, become paralyzed and do nothing.
Enduring stress hinders us as it causes us to become more susceptible to that which we are most fearful of; we are less resilient to illness as stress weakens our immune system. Our fears drown out our inner voice causing us to unconsciously manifest what we are trying to avoid rather than directing the course of our lives.
With loss of control we feel powerless. The reality is we are far more powerful than we realize. A brain
under stress greatly compromises our ability to see clearly and objectively. The good news is that a research study from the University of Cincinnati showed that 85 percent of what we worry about never happens and for the 15 percent that does happen, 79 percent of the people say they handled it very well.
Think of all the crises you have endured in the past. You were probably worried about many things at the time that never came to fruition. You became stronger because of it and pulled through.
I realize that what may be happening for you is traumatic. You may be out of work right now or worried about your job, feel the anxiety of the market plummet, be worried about your loved ones and world affairs, feel isolated and alone, or even be ill. I know you are trying to address your current situation in the best way possible. You are not alone. You are never alone. Divine guidance is always with you. We are all in this together.
One of the things that we need to keep in mind is that this is temporary and that this too shall pass. All we can do is put our best foot forward and then we need to accept that we have done everything we can, allow without resistance, trust, let go and let God. Have patience.
At this point, focusing on all the mistakes that have been made by "higher-ups" and the government(s) prior to, and in the process of this pandemic, as well as blaming, is not the energy that will move us forward. We need to convert anger into purpose, passion and learning.
Through all of this there is a silver lining. In a time of crises, when we are being "forced" to follow protocol and the rules and "stay home", we are being given the gift of time for introspection, reflection, quiet, and solitude.
Our daily habits and incessant, addictive mind chatter, are being interrupted to create the necessary disorder to reorder, reprioritize and ask the deeper questions in our lives - who am I? What is important to me? Why am I here? What do I stand for? What do I need? How can I help? What inner strengths do I possess to pull me through?
Our environment is inviting us to take care better care of ourselves starting with our health. What is more important than that? We realize that to preserve our health, we need to find the calm in the eye of the storm and focus on the only real thing we can control - our attitude. During times of crisis, having a positive attitude can be extremely difficult. It's very important however as it is the sole means by which we create our future.
A positively peaceful attitude is the way in which we rewire our brain from stress to neurological power and extraordinary intuition. Try to meditate twenty minutes a day or find a substitute for meditation such as walking in nature, praying, knitting, yoga, or taking a hot bath - things to slow down your brain waves and relax you.
Having an internal locus of control and finding our inner peace, no matter what is occurring on the outside, is the way in which we take our power back. No one can take your sense of peace away from you but you.
We are being prompted to listen to our inner voice, get in touch with our soul, and expand consciousness to reframe this experience and create new paradigms that are increasingly heart centered and compassionate. Through self-care and love for others, as well as allowing ourselves to be vulnerable to receive, we raise our vibration, reduce dis-ease, and come to know our innate power.
As I write, I can now hear the words of spirit so I will share...
(If you have had a reading with me, you know that I do not edit anything I receive, and I won't here. Sometimes we must unlock the clues to spirit's messages as they are given in metaphor, while others are more literal.)
Spirit: "In every storm, there is an anchor - that anchor is you - trust yourself."
Spirit: "The right hand is going to give it to the left. Imposter Syndrome"
Me: "I'm lost. What does that mean?"
Spirit: "Look it up."
Hmm...I just looked it up. Merriam Webster's Dictionary states: "Imposter Syndrome is commonly understood as a false and sometimes crippling belief that one's successes are products of luck or fraud rather than skill." "It occurs when our belief in our knowledge, skills, and abilities, or our self-efficacy, is lower than what the people around us see."
As the reader, what is your interpretation of spirit's message?
One interpretation could be that spirit is saying that we must "own" the competencies and gifts that we already possess and that we do not need to question whether we have the internal resources and strengths we need to overcome our current circumstances. Stress happens, and we feel out of control, when we feel our circumstances outweigh our perceived ability to handle our circumstances.
What I think spirit is saying is that we will be triumphant in moving through this by realizing our internal power (our right hand is going to give it to the left). We have what we need inside us. We are not an imposter to ourselves. We come to know ourselves. We trust ourselves. That is our anchor.
Spirit: "People want to be in control because they always want to step in the right direction. What they are learning now is to examine their own heads. Right now, people are feeling like they are settling, and they don't want to settle. Unless people are always driving ahead, they feel like they are settling. Your itinerary as you know it has stopped. In quiet you find your comfort zone."
Spirit: "Tell people to start journaling. Journal feelings and insights. People do not need to be consumed in front of the TV to find their answers. Their answers are waiting inside them and being offered by spirit." (You may prefer to use the words God, Universe, Source, Divine guidance or another word of your choosing).
Spirit: "Stillness creates a counter stillness which is the energy to create. What people are learning is to create a world of their own choosing - to create their own reality. As explorers you haven't done enough exploring."
Me: "Why haven't we?"
Spirit: "Because the voices in your hearts and heads are masked behind the opinions of others."
Spirit: "It's about confronting your greatest fears."
Me: "Which is what?"
Spirit: "Your symbiotic nature. You need others and they need you."
As I hear that, I am deeply moved by it. The irony is that in the process of social distancing and time alone, we are learning to create a more emotionally intimate, deeper connection. We are learning to be vulnerable and speak up about our fears, what we need and what we can offer.
Or perhaps we are spending much more time with family and embracing them with profound gratitude (and learning better ways to resolve conflict and collaborate!).
We are learning greater social responsibility and how to help our neighbors. And when we can't help, we need not feel uncomfortable or guilty, but instead embrace the love coming to us. We are becoming more mindful that we are part of the whole and all are one.
Spirit: "People are fragmented. They are coming together toward a common purpose and to share ideas, information and compassion." "Holding hands is arbitrary, it's about the love we give each other." "Masks are coming off as people celebrate humanity. People are getting real because they need to be helped, and those who can help, do. Ego and pride are being shed." "Generosity is here."
Spirit: "We are here to help. You can call on us anytime! You will be alright."
Spirit: "There will be bread in your basket."
Spirit: "Let's pray. It relinquishes people's pain."
I have asked many questions and gathered answers from spirit which I will share later in another blog so to avoid this article from being too long.
As a conclusion for today and as another source of data, I asked spirit, "Is there anything else that would be helpful for us to hear about this subject?" For the answer, I pulled an oracle card (Archangels Oracle Cards, Doreen Virtue, Ph.D.) with my eyes closed. And here it is! A fantastic validation of this discussion...
See how amazing you are? I always knew it and so does Spirit! We are in good hands!
Copyright © 2020, Karen Storsteen. All Rights Reserved.
Karen Storsteen, M.S., M.A., in an intuitive therapist, psychotherapist, executive coach and psychic-medium. She has worked in the fields of human and organizational development for over twenty-five years and educated and counseled thousands to self-actualize and reach their greatest potential.
Karen is known for her “supersensory and uncanny intuitive gifts”, and blends this talent with proven psychological methods to help people gain instant insight and awareness in love, work and life.
She helps people let go of limiting thoughts and behaviors so they may experience the miraculous and catapult their lives forward.
Karen is revolutionizing the way people think and feel to achieve results they never thought possible. She provides counseling and consulting services, as well as intuitive sessions, globally and by phone.
Storsteen has been featured on ABC, NBC, CBC, and has been a regular on morning radio and several FM/AM and internet radio stations. Her work, Intuitive Leadership: A Psychological, Neurological and Quantum Approach to Heighten Intelligence, Innovation and Performance, was published by Taylor and Francis in 2019. She is also a regular contributing writer to Discover Magazines. Her work is well recognized by Fortune 500 leaders, professional organizations (such as Mensa The High IQ Society and The Project Management Institute), higher education, the media and general public.
Karen graduated with Honors with a Master of Arts in Psychology from Regis University, holds a Master of Science in Management and Organization, and Master’s Minor in Finance, from the University of Colorado, and Bachelor of Science in Business Management. She holds numerous certifications in psychological, behavioral and organizational assessment and human performance improvement technologies.
To learn more, go to karensinsight.com and karenstorsteen.com.
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