Finding balance in chaos

These are challenging times. We are all feeling it. Between the U.S. election and other global crises, we are all struggling to stay balanced in the chaos. It’s not easy.

But there is hope: our spiritual teachings from around the world offer timeless wisdom and practical tools to help us find and maintain inner peace – even joy—during difficult times.

Here are seven simple, time-tested practices to help you find balance in today’s tumultuous world:

1. Pay Attention

Attention is the cornerstone of all spiritual practices. In one way or another, we are instructed to pay attention to where we put our precious attention.

It’s one thing to stay informed, but if you find yourself overwhelmed by what’s going on in the world, think about where you put your attention. If your attention is consumed by current events, you might need to turn off the news, turn off the phone, stay off social media, or walk away from a contentious conversation. Consider turning it instead to things that give you peace and joy, like family, friends, or time in nature.

2.   Stay True to Yourself

When fear takes hold during challenging times, it’s easy to panic, get swept up in catastrophic thinking, or blindly believe what others tell you to think or do. But it’s not useful.

In all our spiritual teachings, we are taught to stay true to ourselves, and not give up our needs and values for expediency or because someone tells us to. These days, that means being critical about what you see or hear in the media or on the streets, and listening for your own truth. What matters to you? What values do you hold dear? What feels right and true to you? Be open to your own inner voice, not the loud ones outside.

3.   Get Quiet

Getting away from the outside chaos is a necessary part of finding balance. Every tradition teaches that we need to quiet the noise in our heads and in our hearts so we can come back to ourselves and hear what is true.

Taking a few minutes every day for meditation, body/mind practices, prayer, or quiet contemplation helps us develop equilibrium and resilience, both of which are needed during chaotic times. It also helps us not to react from fear or outrage, which can only lead to more chaos.

4.   Take Care of Your Foundations

Every spiritual tradition teaches us that during hard times, it’s even more important to take care of our basic foundations for health and well-being: eat, sleep, hydrate, rest, play, connect. Breathe.

If we don’t care for ourselves in these basic ways, stress levels rise, tempers get short and our ability to navigate challenging times becomes more difficult. Be mindful of your basic needs and spend time each day caring for yourself in these truly nourishing ways.

5.   Creative Collaboration

Every spiritual tradition teaches that we are creative beings, and our imaginations create the world moment by moment.

During chaotic times, it becomes even more important not to waste time complaining or doomsaying, but to work with others to come up with creative solutions to the problems we face. Don’t get lost in negativity and hopelessness. Get involved with people who are doing creative things to help.

6.   Celebrate

In the midst of challenging times, it’s hard to think about celebrating, but we have to remember to be grateful for what we do have and make the time to celebrate the little things.

Take every opportunity to celebrate yourself, others, a sunset or a smile. Turn on the music and dance. Host a potluck. Go outside and look at the stars. Remember you are alive, even if it’s hard. Joy brings balance to even the most difficult situations.

7.   Take Care of Others

When things get difficult, it’s all too easy to isolate and worry about our own needs. But every tradition teaches us that when times get tough, we need to care for each other more than ever.

There are as many ways to care as there are people. Every day. Reach out. Do something kind for someone else, and the world suddenly becomes less frightening.

It’s not easy to find and maintain balance during difficult times. But if we apply these simple, timeless and time-tested spiritual practices every day, we can transcend despair and fear and bring inner peace and harmony to ourselves and others.

Lauryn Axelrod is an ordained Interfaith/Interspiritual Minister and the author of Ten Words: An Interspiritual Guide to Becoming Better People in a Better World.