Simple Steps for a Detox During Lockdown

Hello, friends! I hope that you are holding up okay. Here we are starting week six of lockdown. It’s almost unthinkable, but we are all struggling with negative thoughts, confusion and anxiety together. Each time I have this conversation, I come around to the same conclusion: that we all must continue to take it one day at a time–and sometimes–one hour at a time. This has been one of my life mottos for some time, and now more than ever it holds so true. If we allow ourselves to get lost in long-term thinking, projecting and worries, it leads to complete overwhelm. But if we focus on what is in front of us, the things that we can control, and the moments at hand–well then, it all becomes much more manageable.

Another thing that always helps is finding the good within the bad, the light within the darkness. As with all things, this pandemic brings negative and positive. We are all incredibly aware of the negative consequences of this time in history, but what is less obvious are the positives. One of the hugely positive outcomes of the pandemic is environmental changes. At this moment, air pollution and noise pollution are at historical lows. Without the constant rumbling of buses, trucks, trains and cargo ships, seismologists (who study earthquakes) are able to pick up seismic activity on the other side of the planet that they have not been able to in a century.

With the drastic decrease in noise pollution from passenger and cargo ships, ocean noise has dropped tremendously. We’re currently experiencing an unprecedented pause in ocean noise that hasn’t been experienced in decades. Ambient noise from ships and other maritime traffic increases stress-hormone levels in marine creatures, which can affect their reproductive success. Whales have even shown they can adapt to the noise, pausing their singing when cargo ships are near and resuming when they move away. North Pacific humpback whales are beginning to move northward this month and will soon be swimming with newborn calves in southeast Alaska. This will be the quietest, and therefore least stressful, re-entry that humpback whales have had in southeastern Alaska in decades.

At the same time, as a result of social distancing efforts the harmful effects of air pollution and other environmental contaminants have plummeted. While the entire human race is holding their breath, our Mother Gaia is finally catching hers. Just as there are some positive outcomes for the planet right now, there are also potential positive outcomes for us, the human race. There is so much good that can come from this time if we allow it to form a vastly deeper appreciation for our healthcare and front-line workers who we now recognize as the heroes that they are; to the unprecedented closeness and growth that families and individuals are being forced to lean into during lockdown; to the new gratitude that we will have for the little things when this is all over–like handshakes, hugs, browsing our favorite shops, sharing a meal with friends, birthday parties, and so on.

Another benefit of this time, if we so choose to embrace it, is what it can do for our health. Haven’t we all said at one time or another, if only I had more time to devote to cooking, I could prepare healthy meals; if only I had more time to exercise, I could finally get in shape. For many of us, now is gifted time to take hold of the unique opportunity to seek health and wellness. One way that we can do this is through detoxing. While many of us think about detoxing from the perspective of mainstream addictions (alcohol, drugs, gambling) there are a great many physical and emotional toxins that impact our health. This lockdown is a gifted time to implement some simple steps for detox to reset your physical and emotional health.

Here are a few simple ideas and steps for a detox during a lockdown.

Detox from processed food. Much of the food that we find on the shelves of grocery stores these days are processed and full of toxic artificial sweeteners and preservatives. If you would like to detox from processed food during the lockdown, all you need to do is choose whole foods the next time you’re at the grocery store. Whole foods mean food that is straight from the earth, such as fresh fruit, vegetables, and meat. Learn more about whole foods here.

Detox from alcohol or drugs. If you are one of the millions of people who suffer from addiction to alcohol or drugs, this lockdown can be an opportunity to address those issues. While the feelings of anxiety and isolation might push us to want to use and numb more, we also have the opportunity to take a different approach. If we have it within our power to tackle these issues ourselves, we can take this time of social distancing where there are fewer opportunities to use (fewer parties, less social functions, no bars open, etc.) and effectively detox from behaviors that may have been holding us back.

For some, going through withdrawal alone is not an option. In this case it’s a good idea to reach out for alcohol home detox and addiction counseling from specialized professionals. If you have private or public health insurance you can reach out to your carrier or check their website to see what options are available to you. Or you can search the web for providers that service your specific needs, just make sure that you choose a provider that is fully licensed and accredited.

Detox from toxic relationships. Another opportunity that we have right now is to detox from toxic relationships, whether it is toxic co-workers, neighbors, old friends, or even family members; most people have at least some relationships that cause stress and pain. Social distancing is a perfect time to cut these people out of your life for a while–if not for good! Take some time and space away from these relationships and also use this time to study how to set strong, healthy boundaries. There are lots of books and even free articles online about this topic and it may not only bring you peace during this time, but it may also change your relationships in a positive way for life.

Detox from stress. Most people are living unconsciously, moving from task to task, with their minds and actions on autopilot. For many, thoughts of stress are constant, money-stress, relationship-stress, job-stress, house-stress, traffic-stress, which impacts our brains health. In a lockdown, we have an opportunity to embrace consciousness and to take a break from many of the stresses of daily life. How can we embrace consciousness?

One way to do this simply is to set aside ten minutes a day for meditation. It doesn’t have to be fancy, it doesn’t have to be perfect. Just sit in a quiet space and begin to focus on your breathing. Take a long, slow inhale through your nose, so deep that your belly expands and then your rib cage and then your chest. Hold your breath there for a moment and then exhale through your nose, slowly in equal measure. Do this several times, keeping your attention focused on your breathing. If a thought comes into your mind, do not judge it. Simply allow it to pass and then move your attention back to your breathing. You will feel the peace of presence filling your spirit.

Finally, move into deep meditation. Continue breathing but attempt to truly clear your mind and focus only on the nothingness–the space between your thoughts. Set a timer on your phone or watch. Try to maintain this state of complete presence for one minute. Each day, push yourself to add a minute to the length of your meditation. Many people find meditation to be difficult. If you need help to de-stress, you can always connect with the mental health professionals at BetterHelp.

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Detox from social media and television. Whatever your modern vice maybe, now is the perfect time to take a break from it and take up a new hobby or habit that you’ve been dreaming of. Taking a break from Facebook, Instagram, Netflix, or even the news can all be beneficial to your health and wellness. It’s not that you have to give them up forever, but moving away for a bit can free up emotional and physical space in you, allowing a place for new things to come in. Want to start a morning yoga practice? Now is the time. Want to learn how to crochet? This is a perfect time to start. There are endless videos on YouTube that will teach you everything you need to know about millions of topics. So do a little research, make a game plan and let go of a less-than-healthy habit and replace it with something that will fuel your mind and spirit.

I hope that these tips have been helpful for you, sweet friends. There is no doubt that this is a challenging and scary time in the history of the human race; but it is also an unprecedented opportunity. As is always the case in life, it is up to us how we will use the time that we are given. Sending you to love and light always.

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    Tired of Conflict Bringing You Down?

    Dealing With Conflict

    Conflict takes many forms—misunderstanding, frustration, ignorance, hatred, envy, and so on—but despite the cause, the result is largely the same: someone walks away with hurt feelings.

    The truth is, however, that this is not necessary. You can choose to be unaffected by conflict. It is not an easy thing to accomplish. You have, after all, lived your life believing that conflict equals pain. But with practice & patience you can learn to live above conflict in a place of true peace.

    “True peace can not be disturbed by gain or loss.”

    The reason that conflict hurts us is because we allow it to. Most pain comes from another person(s) or from our own minds. The key to being unaffected by conflict is to understand that anything that another person says to us (out of anger, frustration, etc.) is actually a reflection of her feelings about herself and is rooted in fear. Likewise, anything that our mind says to us (self-criticism, self-hatred, etc.) is also rooted in fear. All forms of discomfort—sadness, anxiety, worry, rage, hatred, envy, and so on—are rooted in fear.

    When you accept that angry words are actually reflections of fear, it makes them much less painful to tolerate. Even the angriest and most cruel of arguments is based in fear & insecurity.

    For example, you have a large project due at work. You bring it into your boss’s office an hour prior to the deadline. She notices that it is riddled with errors. Her face turns red and she begins to scream. “You idiot! How could you be so stupid? This is unacceptable. I can not believe I ever hired you. Get out!”

    On one hand, you are devastated. Her words have stung you at your core. You are insulted, sad, angry, afraid. But if you really stop to analyze the situation, why do you think she acted this way? Most likely, she is afraid. Most likely, she is terrified about the way that your “failure” is going to reflect on her. After all, wasn’t it her who hired you, gave you this assignment, failed to give you proper instruction, and so on? What will her boss think when she turns this project into him? Her explosion was based in fear.

    Another example, it is Saturday afternoon and you are sitting on the couch. Your husband comes in the door and notices that you have not swept the floors. He begins to speak angrily, “Haven’t you swept the floors? Didn’t you see this dirt? You’ve been so lazy recently.” You are crushed and devastated. How could he be so mean? But then again, you stop and analyze. The lawn is not mowed, the gutters are uncleaned, there are piles of crap strewn about the yard. Your husband is insecure about all of his unfinished chores and is projecting his self-frustration onto you. His remarks were based in fear and insecurity.

    If you take the time to truly analyze, you will find that almost every conflict is rooted in fear. Therefore, the vast majority of hurtful things that are ever said to you actually have absolutely nothing to do with you. This is an incredibly liberating concept (not to be confused with the rare scenario when you are actually wrong by the way). Still, just because the other person’s (or even your own self-inflicted) anger is based in fear, that still doesn’t make it right. Yes, perhaps both your boss and your husband were entirely out of line. It is alright for you to tell them so, but what is more important is the way that you process the conflict within yourself.

    Most people internalize the conflict. In any case, you take what was said and push it deep within yourself. Perhaps you believe the other person words. “Yes, I am lazy, stupid, ugly, etc.” The conflict turns into emotional pain and festers within you eventually becoming depression, anxiety, and so on. But as I mentioned at the start, none of that is necessary.

    You must accept the conflict (words) for what they are—someone else’s (or even your own mind’s) fears and insecurities. Fear is nothing to be afraid of or affected by. Most fear is completely unnecessary (read more about that).

    After the conflict, words, and judgments have passed, simply allow all of it to pass through and around you like water or air. Understand that it is something outside of you, that has nothing to do with you at all. It is not inside of you, it did not come from you, and you do not have to absorb it. Simply let it pass and then move on.

    Holding onto the pain of conflict is insane and unnatural. What do the birds do after the great storm has passed? They sing, of course! You will never hear the birds singing so sweetly and so loudly as they do after the storm has passed and the sun shines again. They do not mourn the broken nest, the wet feathers, or the lost supper. They simply sing and praise the light in gratitude. They rejoice that the sun has come again.

    In his book, The Power of Now: A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment, Eckhart Tolle talks about his observation of duck fights. Two ducks approach one another. They squawk in anger for mere seconds. Then they turn away from one another, flap their great wings a few times, and swim on as if it never happened. This is true wisdom, true peace, in action. There is so much that we can learn from this simple observation.

    There is really no need to hold onto anger or discomfort. There is really no need to suffer. In life, you will find many reason to suffer. But a good reason to suffer, you will never find. Let conflicts pass through and around you. Do not hold onto them. You will almost always find that it never has anything to do with you anyway.

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