With everything that’s going on in the world right now, it can be challenging to focus on your work, focus on being present, growing your business, and just being there for your students. You might even be feeling bad for focusing on your work, but what the world needs right now is more awareness, mindfulness and meditation, and tools to help us all cope as best we can.
If you’re anything like me, you want to find ways to help and although we may not be able to help the people of Ukraine in person, we can donate, fundraise, and try to be there for them as best we can. But in order to do this, we need to make sure our own cup is full first.
At the time of this post, we are at the edge of a third world war, and what’s happening in Ukraine is not just affecting Europe, but the whole world. So right now, you may think it’s wrong to be worrying about what you’re posting on social media, creating content, and all those other little things, right? But life has to go on, and you’re helping no one if you just stay stuck and watch the news 24 hours a day, hoping things will get better.
Try to think about it this way – if you’re creating offers around wellness, meditation, mindfulness, and giving people tools to help them feel better, that is helping in your own way. What really struck a chord with me is that I want to donate to care organizations and charities that are working directly with Ukrainian people, but In order for me to do that, I need to earn money and fill my own cup before I can give something away.
I understand that this may be easier said than done because it can be upsetting and feel overwhelming trying to work knowing there is so much hurt and destruction happening, so I have to use tools and methods to help me carry on, and I want to share these with you.
Limit Your News Consumption
I completely understand how difficult this might be for people who are personally affected by what’s going on or have family and friends in Ukraine or Russia right now. It’s also important to know what’s going on in the world, but if you feel like it’s too difficult to watch, limit the amount of time you allow yourself to watch it. This may mean that you only allow yourself 15 minutes to find out what’s going on, and then you stop. Allow yourself to take it in, to feel how you feel, and sit with these feelings during this time.
Journal
You need somewhere to put your thoughts and feelings – they’re valid after all. Bottling them up will make you feel awful and the thoughts you’re having will circle around in your head all day which will affect your work and mood. My way of coping is by watching the news, letting out any emotions (I often find myself crying), and then writing down my thoughts and feelings in a journal. This really helps me carry on with my day and focus on what I need to be doing.
Don’t Give Up On Your Dreams
Giving up on what you love and how you’re helping people would be letting the bad guys win. Make sure to remember why you’re doing this and how what you’re doing is helping people – directly or indirectly. We are here to make the world a better place, and you deserve everything in your life.
I’m an optimist and I believe it will never get as bad as it could get. Yes we are living in hard times and yes it’s going to be very difficult for the people of Ukraine and Russia and their families for a long time, but there will always be things we can find to be grateful for.
Don’t Shy Away From Earning Money
Don’t give up on your financial goals and live in poverty – this isn’t going to help anyone. You need money in order to give it away and still be able to support yourself. This might actually motivate you to get back to work and keep going because the more money you earn the more you can give away. Step up and see what you can do to earn more money – like organizing a fundraiser or collaborating with other yoga teachers on a project and getting people involved. But remember, it’s OK if you don’t have the energy to do this, you may not feel up to being a leader and organizing all these things too, so maybe you could just take part in something instead, and show up to support the person organizing it.
Keep Going
We still have to live our lives – that’s just the way it is at the moment. People in Ukraine are still having to take care of their children, pets, and loved ones, and get through the day. Their reality is very different right now, but they are carrying on and being strong – shocking the world with their resilience.
There’s a saying in Germany that roughly translates to “don’t put your head in the sand” and this couldn’t be more true right now. Don’t just stop and give in to fear and do nothing, hoping everything will sort itself out and go away.
We should also be carrying on, doing our part, and making sure that we are striving to do our best. This is probably the best way to help people and really step up as the leader that your followers and students need, and be there for them.
So, continue working and appreciate that it’s nowhere near as bad as it could be for a lot of people right now and that we should be doing what we can to get through this together. You’re doing important work by helping people feel better which really matters right now, especially after the last two years of the pandemic and now with war. Use journaling, move your body, and all of these other tools that you have to get through the days. We’re in this together.
I would love to hear from you if you have something to share or are organizing a fundraiser or event for the people of Ukraine. Please tag me on Instagram or write me an email and let me know what you’re doing so that I can share it with my community too – I would also love to stay updated with how you’re getting on.
