TURMOIL.
There’s inner turmoil, and there’s outer turmoil.
Last week, I shared one of my favorite spiritual tools: the serenity prayer.
It’s helped me tremendously over the last couple of decades to stay grounded during difficult situations.
Lately, I’ve needed it a lot, as there’s been plenty of turmoil around me—if you know what I mean.
I’ve been doing my very best to ground myself—for my own sanity, and so I can continue to show up in a solid way for my wife, children, and friends. For the people who rely on me.
I’ve also found that during the most trying times, when challenges and chaos swirl around me, sometimes the best thing I can do is get “back to basics.”
What does that look like for me?
Here’s my list:
- Hit my knees and pray as soon as I get out of bed (it helps me surrender negative thinking).
- Take a cold shower (I know it sounds crazy—I loved warm showers my whole life until last year—but I’ve found that while warm showers make me want to crawl back into bed, cold showers energize me).
- Carve out ten minutes for a morning routine before starting work (this includes a short meditation to quiet my mind, a brief gratitude list, and a few spoken affirmations).
- Exercise (it’s priceless—activating my body and connecting my mind, body, and soul).
- Diet: cut out sugary foods and snacking (makes me feel leaner and gives me energy).
- Take a short walk in the middle of the day (it feels great and frees my mind).
- Switch off my phone and put it away as soon as I get home so I can be fully present with my wife and children during dinner and bedtime.
- Short yoga session before bed (just ten minutes—again, connecting my mind, body, and soul, and relieving tension).
- Hit my knees and pray before bed (once again, it helps me surrender negative thinking).
- Read a book instead of looking at my phone before sleep (it feels so much better).
- BONUS: Lights out by 10.
When I do this, I have a much better chance of navigating outer turmoil and being my best self.
Am I perfect?
Heck no.
But I always have the chance to get back to basics.
Ari Welkom, known on stage as Avatari, is an LA-based alt-rock singer and actor. A Harvard graduate, married father of two, and former college athlete, he practices martial arts and champions anti-bullying, equal rights, and unity on his journey of recovery. Follow him on Instagram or Twitter (X)!
Join Ari for Mental Health Mondays at 4pm PST here >>> https://www.instagram.com/avatariworld/
See his videos on YouTube
Anna Azarov Photography
—
This Post is republished on Medium.
—
Photo credit: iStock
