When I heard the news, everything went quiet.

The sadness draped over my heart like a dark heavy blanket.
I curled up in a safe place and let the pain in my heart leak out of my eyes.

The tragedies, violence, inequality, marginalization, destruction, injustice, and traumas of the world break my heart.

Because you’re here, I suspect they hurt your heart too.

I’ve been asked, how do you stay committed to adding love to the world at a time like this?

Because I must.
Because we must.

Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world; indeed, it’s the only thing that ever has. ~ Margaret Mead

I want to live in a world where liberation and love are as common as breath.

In every moment we have the opportunity to create the world the way we want it to be.
What world do you want to live in?
And, what can you do to create it?

Here are five ways you can add to the love in the world during times of trauma.

Heal your trauma. Connect with your favorite healer and dig in {I’m heading to my shrink’s office this morning}. By healing your trauma, you’re more free to add love to the world. If there’s trauma residue in your nervous system, you’re more susceptible to depression, anxiety, addiction, fearful living, closing your heart, and unconscious reactions.

Receive love. By opening your heart to receive love, you’re less likely to shut down and isolate. The more you receive, the more you have to give.

Feel what you feel.

Set your intention. We tend to see what we’re looking for. What do you want to see? If you look for reasons to fear, you’ll find plenty. If you look for reasons to love, you’ll find those too. Close your eyes. Take a breath. Whisper to your soul I intend to see love. Open your eyes. See the love. It’s there, I promise.

Be generous. We’re all living in this global village together. You might be able to easily give what someone else needs. Write a letter. Donate the clothes your kids don’t wear. Open the door when their hands are full. Help a community across the world access fresh water. Make them dinner. Tell him you love him. Tell her she’s not alone.

During times like this, it’s easy to feel powerless, to disconnect, to deny, to lash out … and with every thought you have, post you share, belief you reinforce, word you speak, and action you take you are making a choice.

Will you tip the scale away from war and fear or towards it?
Will you tip the scale away from peace and love or towards it?

When you choose love, you are choosing the most powerful and transformative state the world knows. You are choosing to add light and consciousness to a sometimes dark and unconscious world.

 

Stefan Makwana captured the moment.