#219 – How can we raise above the chaos?

When we can't control external events, we may feel at the mercy of circumstances, not able to stop what we dislike or keep what we love.

But there's one thing we can always do: remain in our full personal power, unwavering.

Even aboard the Titanic, I'm at choice: scream and scramble, adding to the chaos, or remain the owner of myself.

Right now many of us can find reasons to feel like victims – which is going to change exactly nothing. Instead, I open my mind to curiosity: I wonder what will happen next.

Here are three practices helping me stay in my personal power.

Partially right

Whenever I'm too attached to what I believe is true, I bring up Rule #1: "Everyone is partially right." If I'm only partially right, then others are also partially right. With curiosity, I try to find the part that's right.

This removes the feeling of being victimized by other people's truth.

White lines on the road

Reading the news and many Substack newsletters can be inflammatory and unsettling. Whatever I read, I understand and then let it go, as though seeing the white lines on the road pass by.

This keeps my attention clean and my bandwidth wide. When taking action is needed, I'll do it with a cool head and grounded feet.

Kindness no matter what

When we're afraid, our Ego and the Ghosts want to take charge. But if in a time like this we allowed them, we'd all be fighting at the grocery line.

To make sure that my Ego and Ghosts remain powerless and I stay in charge, I show kindness to everyone around me – even the driver who doesn't stop at the zebra crossing, the angry old man who tirades against Miami because "no one even speaks English," or the lady who tells me her nephew is Marco Rubio and then yells across the department store floor that she doesn't want what I'm selling.

Where in your life will you trade victimhood for curiosity?

Love,

Carolina

PS: Remember to stay informed, call your representatives, and stand for your values.