Keeping your sanity

It may sound like something you would do in a mountain retreat. However, in real life, keeping your sanity sounds more like being present in the moment.

Sanity isn’t about being calm 24/7. It’s about staying authentically you, even when life may seem unbearable.

Filter the noise. The first thing that steals your sanity is the noise in your head. Familiar uncertainties invade your thoughts: “What if I fail?” “Did I say something wrong?” “I cannot make ends meet.”

The truth is, you cannot fight what you cannot see. So, right now, write down your thoughts to help stop your brain from looping over them. There are two halves to consider. The first half is when you read that paper once in a while. The second half is when you see the action you need to take.

Protect your peace. Once you have named the noise, you can start creating pockets of peace. No, you do not need an entire morning to meditate. It requires only 10 minutes of your precious time.

Try having breakfast without scrolling, walking around the block, stretching while you are cooking or watering a plant. Sanity lives in small rituals that may seem boring. Those simple actions are telling your nervous system, “We are not in emergency mode. Therefore, we are safe.”

This applies to outside forces, too. There are people in our lives who cannot help but drain our energy. So, how about you take a step back this once? You must protect your inner calm. Let no one rock your boat.

Manage expectations. Protecting your peace also means not being so hard on yourself. Perfectionism is the fastest way to reach frustration. It is the best way to lose your mind. Sometimes, 80 percent is good enough. 

For example, some dinners can just be soup and a sandwich. Your hair doesn’t have to look like you stepped out of a salon. And your waistline need not be 24 inches at all because 30 is good enough.

Some days are better than others. And some days, your sense of fulfillment is met because you “showed up.” Do what you can. Then, rest. The best kind of maintenance is rest.

Talk to a friend. Rest and reflection do not mean shutting yourself off from others. Sanity thrives in company. It is threatened in isolation. Just one friend or a circle of genuine, caring people can nurture your social connections. You can also choose to be there for someone else. Offering a helping hand to someone else can be healing.

Move your body. Taking care of your mind also means taking care of your body. Mind experts say that moving your body can manage stress and anxiety levels. Both of these conditions can manifest physically — in the shoulders, jaw and stomach. When you walk, shake it out daily. You will feel better with a mild workout.

You won’t be able to keep your sanity in a vault. You will lose it. But the human spirit was designed to never give up. The goal is not “zero stress.” The ultimate goal is to come back to yourself each time.

Therefore, breathe deeply. Drink water. Exercise. Pray. Sleep early. Reply to your messages. You’re human. And you are doing better than you think. So give yourself a pat on the back.

Affirmation: “I am proud of myself.”

Love and light.