Once again, I find myself sitting here, in complete shock and disgust, feeling like a stranger in this world - certainly in this country!
Once again, my brain can't make this make sense. It shouldn't make sense! I don't want it to make sense! How can people not see what I and others are seeing? (IT'S ON VIDEO, FOR CRYING OUT LOUD!)
Once again, my heart starts racing and my pulse increases, and I feel that familiar tightness forming in my chest.
DANGER! DANGER! You're in danger!
Do something!
Do something!
And the fear starts to swell and the chemicals in my body start to increase.
DANGER!
MOVE, LORI!!!!
DO SOMETHING!
ANYTHING!
until, thankfully,
that gentle voice that I have come to know, that 'other' guiding force, that Life energy, the Universe, my elders, the Holy Spirit, God, Allah, vibrational alignment -- whatever name that you choose to give that force in your life (stop getting distracted over semantics, people!) -- it, again, reminds me:
Lori, just breathe. It's just where they are.
Now, would YOU just recognize where YOU are, and stop worrying?
You'll be fine. You don't depend upon that world, you don't have to control it, nor do you have to convince anyone else, you only need to continue intelligently operating within it and you are more than capable of doing that and doing it well.
Unfortunately, my nervous system wasn't really built for that. That doesn't come automatic to me.
- On this 'physical plane', I never really properly got those messages about believing in myself or knowing that I would be fine, or that I had a right to be heard or acknowledged or to take up space in this world. Unfortunately, those weren't embedded into my nervous system. Fear was. A need for perfection was. Codependence was.
- I haven't always truthfully been acknowledged or rewarded for my efforts in this world, nor have I always been allowed to freely use my skills without interference; therefore, I never learned to see my own worth honestly or clearly.
- In my faith journey, I wasn't always encouraged to look at facts, or to question and hold all parties accountable, nor was I taught to incorporate all the data and then make intelligent, rational decisions based upon the entire body of information.
Those 'programs' just don't always run naturally for me. My OS has a few bugs. A few missing lines of code. They are things that I had to learn along the way and now have to work at - every day, with every interaction, with great intention, because my nervous system will always choose comfort over upset, always choose ease over stress and activation, always choose the feeling of familiar over different when left unchecked.
All of our nervous systems will. It is how they work. It is how they are formed to protect us. These are things that I have to actually push myself to do, that I have to push through the discomfort of, and against the icky, terrifying feelings that they are often accompanied by, or they will not happen.
I know I am not alone. I know that many of us were raised in chaotic situations or unhealthy environments or by toxic people, or we suffered trauma or hardships or hurt that has left its imprint on our nervous systems.
I am so thankful that, over recent years, I have done a lot of work - in counseling, both individual and marriage; through reading and study and self-reflection and making changes in social circles and faith circles and activities; and generally, desperately searching for peace... for love... for joy, and making the best choices I can to support the life that I am seeking.
It's been hard, but it's been worth it, and I've been finding the Fruit I am looking for, just not in the means or places that I was necessarily taught I'd find it.
Sadly, there are no easy roads. We can't play the victim in our own life. We are the driver. We are in charge. There is no one who is coming to save us. There is no one qualified to tell us what to do.
BUT WE CAN DO IT! We can take charge.
Do not let your emotions overwhelm you to the point of ineffectiveness, my friend.
In this life:
You are the solution. You are the cure. You are the driver. You are the Artist and the Creator.
You have to learn to be honest and care for yourself.
But, good news, you've got this.
Each day is just one more day to do it better. To learn a little more. To create a little bigger piece of Heaven for yourself in this world...or perhaps, IN SPITE OF THIS WORLD.
Deep Breath. We can do this.
Love you all.
Lori
My plans for the near future, as per the usual, focusing on Body-Mind-Spirit:
1. Recognize when my body has been activated in some way and remember that it will always feel uncomfortable. No need to panic without investigating first though. It might be a legit warning, but chances are, it's a false alarm or an exaggerated response.
Stay grounded. Breathe. Walk. Meditate. Do Yoga. Engage in breathwork and mindfulness activities.
In whatever way works, deal with that excess energy in your body.
Remember, this is the sort of 'stress' that causes disease in the body.
2. Recognize and honor the emotions that you are feeling. Leave time in life to feel and reflect upon your feelings. Spirit speaks to you in this space.
Why are you activated? Are you anxious? Are you afraid? What are you feeling?
Once you determine the feeling, dig for the underlying cause of the feeling.
If you are feeling scared, why? What do you fear?
Is it a reasonable fear? Are you being rational or are your feelings overwhelming your mind/reality?
3. #dothework - Gather all the information and do the difficult work of integrating all the new information and data with the existing data and beliefs - including the feelings and causes you dug up, including factual information provided by the senses and the external, material world via science and nature and experience, and including truthful self-reflection regarding your own patterns, behaviors, actions, thoughts, and beliefs.
4. Be honest regardless of the apparent outcome or your fears.
When integrating the information, if you are not integrating all of the available information, if you are not recognizing other people's perspectives, if you are not integrating scientifically proven data and are not recognizing the power of Cognitive Bias and other unconscious mental processes, then you are simply deceiving yourself.
5. Keep your eyes, ears, and mind open always. Educate yourself and be smart. Use all the tools and resources you have been given for the living of your best life. [Speaking of resources, Project 2025 is their playbook. Finish reading it so you know the game plan and can defend yourself and assist in the defense of all those loved ones in soon-to-be highly targeted groups in the best and most intelligent way possible.]
Take in all the beautiful things, too - not just the scary and problematic. Spend time in nature. Focus on the good things in life. Don't let your fears cause you to shut down and close yourself off from connecting with others.
Also, remember to be honest with yourself about what your resources and gifts are!
Eric and I joke sometimes about our IQs and how lonely it is out in the skinny part of the curve. (see graph below) I know this might trigger some of you, just my saying that. But here's the thing - it's true. It's been a part of the world's way of holding us back and keeping us from living up to our potential in this world, to encourage us to deny truths like this about ourselves, to make us feel bad about simply being honest about our giftedness in certain areas. Why would we shrink ourselves or hide talents or skills to make you or others feel more comfortable?
I know there are a lot of others out there who have also experienced this same thing in life.
If you find yourself in this situation -- with your IQ or with your Spiritual Intelligence or with your Emotional Intelligence -- way out in front of the curve, know that, regardless of what you may have been taught or currently believe, there is a good chance that you won't ever fit in with the bulk of the crowd; you were made to be a leader. It is lonely and it is hard to find your people in that space, because they are few and far between, but they are out there. Continue to live authentically, regardless of the crowd, and you will find them!
6. Live your best life. Love others. Care for your body. Care for your mind. (Learn to recognize lies and toxic behavior that others use to harm you.) Stay the course and make solid decisions based upon all data, AFTER processing through your emotions and reactions.
Carry on! The goal is thriving, not just surviving.