“He who finds his happiness within, his joy within and likewise his Light within, realizes one-ness with the Divine and the beatitude of God.”
-Bhagavad Gita 5:24
New Normal
We all are becoming adapted to the new normal. For now and moving forward, our life requires our attention to detail, i.e., social distancing, wearing masks, and washing our hands for twenty seconds, just to name a few. As a collective, we became extremely comfortable and accustomed to our “instant gratification” in the “old days” when we could depend on two-day shipping and going to our local stores to pick up things when we need them. Because of all the changes due to the COVID-19 restrictions, we have found ourselves struggling to let go of the old habits and ways of doing things. Therefore, it is time for what I am calling extreme self-care.
Extreme Self-Care
You have probably heard about “self-care” and hopefully give yourself some grace in the rapidly changing times. However, the “extreme self-care” practice focuses on a deeper self-care that has been ignored and forgotten. Extreme self-care involves loving yourself as we love others. Humanity became so involved in reacting to the external “ego” world of illusions and competition that we all lost ourselves in the matrix.
The collective consciousness was “snowballing” towards the “spirit of material things,” self-care also became about the external focus. We have all been working hard to support our families, inflation increased, and some were working two and three jobs to make ends meet. This way of living is not sustainable, and now we see how fragile the “house of cards” really is. We have slowed down enough to reevaluate our values and what has meaning in our lives. The paradigm shift, for some, might not have been realized without this global timeout.
Balance
We have discussed the importance of balance in the areas that make us whole by considering our mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical bodies. When we talk about “extreme self-care,” it requires discipline, mindfulness, and moving into a place of heartfulness in being present. Perhaps you have heard about people being “human doings” rather than “human beings.” We begin with mindfulness to discover a place of “just being.”
The global time out asks these questions: Now that we have “our attention,” what do we see, hear, smell, feel, taste, and dream? You may want to begin a dream journal. It is said that dreams are “God’s forgotten language. When we go to sleep, we can hear a still quiet voice saying, “even amid a world pandemic, ‘Agape’ love is with you always.” Now that we have our attention, what do we feel in our Spirit? The beginning of extreme self-care requires us to do some soul searching. The old Michael Jackson song, “The Man In The Mirror.”
“Everything that we see in our reflection is based on our perceptions.”
Cindy McFeature, Ph.D.
Stress Levels
Brain research has shown the impact that stress can have on our hearts. Our stress levels have been magnified during this time, based on the World pandemic. We must realize that reacting to the “fear-mongering media” is unhealthy and can cause people with predispositions for anxiety and depression to have increased symptoms. Therefore, we must begin to practice self-care with self-love and understand that the only way “out” is “in.”
HeartPath
The heart, metaphorically, is symbolic of a “portal to the soul.” HeartPath simply makes a connection between illness and networks of pathology. The concept of HeartPath was developed, formulated, and is grounded in peer-reviewed research regarding the heart-brain relationship. Research has also shown that it is critical to conduct periodic self-assessments. A balanced life is part of the extreme self-care process and requires us to invest in developing daily healthy lifestyle practices. Nurturing yourself by addressing your emotional, physical, mental, or spiritual is all about our well-being.
Research has shown that the narrative, or “thoughts in text,” connect to an emotion forming a feeling that manifests in the human heart. A seven-year-old made the following statement: “When we are angry, our hearts shrink and then become flat.” Interestingly, research has recently revealed that when a thought induces an emotion such as anger, the feeling process occurs. Anger as an ongoing feeling then causes our DNA to shrink; however, when a thought produces a feeling such as elation, then the higher vibrations result in feeling love and compassion.
More Joy & Gratitude
When we experience joy and gratitude, our DNA relaxes and spreads out. When our DNA is in a relaxed state, it improves our immune system (Braden, 2008). Research has also shown that when a person is under emotional distress, a physical illness will many times follow. The weakening of our immune system makes us vulnerable to physical illness (Meaning Maker, 2019).
When we open our hearts and begin to “see in Spirit,” we find a luminous energy field, which is our sustainable relationship with our Creator. Researchers Login S. George, Ph.D., and Crystal L. Park, Ph.D. in an article published in Review of General Psychology, stated that people who believe that their lives have meaning have three aspects in place:
- They feel that their lives make sense and have continuity.
- They are directed and motivated by meaningful goals.
- They believe their existence matters to others.
Meaningful Life
We are in the middle of a shift of consciousness on a global and universal scale. If you believe that your life is meaningful and your life matters, you realize that your life experiences have always shown you the way. Now is the time to shift from the old paradigm to begin to honor all of creation in gratitude.
The HeartPath journey follows the desires of the heart, thereby awakening the spirit in your inner heart sanctuary, opening the gift of intuition. Focusing on your heart allows you to release anything that is cored in separation consciousness, fear, lack, duality, perceived limitations, and resistance. Your heart shows you the divine unity consciousness that is our home. When you use your “heart vision,” you connect to your highest spiritual vision with wisdom.
“It’s important to note that whatever is needed to fulfill our calling is part of the present process.”
-Wayne Dyer
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