Finding Peace in the Chaos of Change

By its very nature, change is disruptive and chaotic. Not every moment feels this way, but a lot of the time things will feel out of control.

The space between what was and what is not yet is full of uncertainty. All the unknown variables, the things you can’t predict and therefore can’t plan for, all of it conspires to leave you feeling powerless and overwhelmed.

In that chaos, finding peace can be hard. Here are 3 things you can do to find peace in the midst of change:

Managing overwhelm

Often when navigating change, everything feels urgent, and trying to decide what steps to take next feels impossible. When there’s too much going on, it is very easy to feel overwhelmed.

I know from personal experience that when you’re in a state of overwhelm, the ability to make decisions that feel aligned and right for you goes out the door. You start reacting instead of thoughtfully responding, which makes you feel even more stressed.

When you’re feeling overwhelmed, here are 4 simple steps you can take to get unstuck:

Notice what’s happening in your body 

You may feel like you want to scream, your shoulders may tighten up or you may have the perception that the walls are closing in on you.

Understanding how overwhelm shows up for you can help you get ahead of it since your body will almost always react first to any feelings of being overwhelmed.

Take a breath

Taking a few deep breaths will accomplish two things. (1) it will help you calm down enough to figure out how to move forward, and (2) you get extra oxygen to your brain so you can make the best decision possible.

A simple technique you can use is called 5 Breaths. Breathe in for 5 seconds, out for 5 seconds, repeat 5 times. By the time you get to that 3rd breath, you’ll begin to notice a difference. By the time you get to the 5th one, you’ll feel slightly less overwhelmed

Move your body

If you are a runner, go for a run. If you like to dance, then have a mini-dance party. Do something to get your body moving because it will expel the excess energy building up in you.

This doesn’t have to be complicated. You can walk around the block a couple of times. Or walk down the driveway. The key is that you do something to move your body.

Ask yourself one question

Once you’ve gotten the energy out of your body and you’re feeling a little more present, ask yourself one question to move past the overwhelm.

If you’re overwhelmed by your to-do list, the question is “what’s the next most important thing I need to do?  

If you’re feeling overwhelmed by circumstances in general, the question is what do I need most RIGHT NOW?

Answer the question and follow the answer where it takes you.

Choosing stillness

Having some form of stillness practice can be helpful in finding peace while navigating change. It sounds counter-intuitive. You want to be moving, NEED to be moving in many instances. Yet, by going still you often find a way forward that is filled with more ease and less stress.

This article highlights numerous benefits that can come from creating moments of stillness in your life. In it, I also share simple steps you can take for incorporating stillness in your days. Check it out here.

Letting go

This is the hard part, letting go and trusting the process. And yet it is the most important tool you have for finding peace.

When things feel chaotic the instinct is to grasp for control anywhere and any way you can. This can look like micromanaging every detail of your life. Or losing your patience at the smallest things. Or it can look like you raising your voice when that’s not typically how you move through the world. All of these are ways you are trying to control what cannot be controlled.

You have to trust the journey. Trust that everything is unfolding exactly as it should, even if today you can’t imagine how it will turn out.

If the idea of letting go feels too hard, you can think of it as releasing it to the Divine/Universe/Spirit (whatever terminology works for you). Surrendering the process to a power greater than you is a path to finding peace.

Now, I’d like to hear from you. Which of these resonate most with you? Tell me in the comments or feel free to message me at makeda(at)makedapennycooke(dot)com.

Here’s to you finding peace and rising into your greatness.

From my heart to yours,

P.S: If you find yourself in the middle of a change and feeling lost, uncertain how to move forward, let’s talk. Schedule a complimentary call with me today. On the call, we will take a look at where you are and what it will take to move you towards where you want to be. Schedule your free call today.