Pling! Goes Facebook messenger. “Can you write a piece for next week’s newspaper? About what to do during isolation to stay mentally healthy? Like mindfulness of something?” It’s Jon. From the Herald. “Sure I can Jon.” But I was wrong. I cannot write a piece about what to do during isolation. I cannot write a piece about using mindfulness as a means to stay mentally healthy. Not now. Not when the whole word has come to a standstill, we are all forced to stay inside and the greatest opportunity for a collective awakening of humanity to the truth of who we are is right in front of us.
For those of you who don’t know me, I am Nicole Olsthoorn. I am a spiritual teacher and new thought leader and my life’s purpose is to be a source of hope and inspiration in the world. It is my mission to crack you open to the infinite space of love that resides in your heart, so that you can live a fulfilling and joyous life in alignment with your purpose and mission, too. I know this kind of work might seem futile for many in comparison to what is going on in the world right now. How can you possibly think about purpose and joy when the world is coming to an end, right?
The End of the World I know you might be afraid right now. And I am not going to tell you not too. Within a matter of days your whole world has done a 180. You’re stuck at home. Your job might be on the line. You see your livelihood slowly disappearing. And with no sight of change any time soon, you cannot help but worry about what is going to happen. Is this the end of the world? Yes it is. It is the end of the world as we have known it. And even though that might feel disturbing to you, this is actually a good thing. Because the end is never the end. Instead, every end is a new beginning.
A New Beginning I read a beautiful few words on Facebook the other day by Kitty O'Meara. It read: “And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadow and the people began to think differently.” This is what I want you to do to stay mentally healthy. This is what I want you to do to get through this. This is what I want you to do to lift your spirit, find purpose and joy in your life right now, and share it with others. Read. Listen. Rest. Exercise. (There are some really good yoga youtube videos out there!) Make art. Be creative. Play games. Be still. Meditate. Pray. And most of all… dance. Dance your worries away for now. And if you can, if you dare, if you feel ready… dream of the New World that will emerge from underneath the rubble. Because whether or not you are able to see through the devastation right now, I can. And whether or not you believe in this new world emerging sooner rather than later, I do. And until you are ready to believe it with me, I will be here as a source of hope and inspiration holding the light during times of darkness. May my words lighten your burden and your time in isolation bring forth a deeper connection with yourself and your loved ones. Namasté.
