PROTECTING YOUR ENERGY

I know Queen. I know. It's difficult to keep your head up and stay focused on your goals and dreams when there is so much chaos going on around us. I know how it feels to read another similar headline, watch another heartbreaking video, or come across an opinion from a "friend" on social media, that is the complete opposite of what you believe, and feel devastated and heart broken. There's so much ugliness in the world it's hard not to let it effect us. We find ourselves heartbroken more times than should be allowed as if we are May in The Secret Life of Bees.

It leaves me with a lump in my throat. I want to cry, but nothing comes up because I just cried the other day over something that happened. It's beyond frustrating and I want to help but I find myself feeling completely and utterly useless. I start comments on social media and delete them. I research places to send money and end up not doing it because I don't know for sure if the money is really going where they say it is going. I come up with awesome ideas on how to help and feel lost because I have no idea where to begin. It's all overwhelming.

I feel numb and defeated. It depresses me. It literally puts me in a mood that numbs my whole body. How can there be so much evil in such a beautiful world? I find myself wanting to ignore it all together and just retreat into my happy place. But that doesn't help either because not knowing whats going on disconnects me from the very world, community, neighborhood, and people I want to help.

Staying informed and up to date on what is happening in the world is important Queen. It's not something we should run from. We are blessed to live in a society where we are privy to what is going on in our government and can vote on laws to change what we don't like. We are privileged to live in a society where we can voice our disdain of the injustice, inequality, and straight fuckery we see in our governing bodies. Choosing to ignore the problems of our world is just as devastating as choosing to ignore your purpose in life.

It is our duty as human beings to speak up and help those who's voices are being muffled and silenced. We do that by voting, by writing letters, speaking at town hall meetings, donating to important causes, volunteering at events, or just speaking up in conversations with friends and family. Those are just a few ways that we can make a difference, but we can't do those things if we don't know what's going on.

However, it's also important for us to take care of ourselves and protecting our energy. As I have said before, your goals and dreams can't happen without you. It's imperative that you are at your best everyday in order for you to build your dreams. Will Smith once compared working towards success as a sport. It's grueling on your mind, body, and soul and if you're going to make it, you need to work to make sure you are in the best shape of your life. This means getting an appropriate amount of sleep, eating well, exercising. Avoiding distractions and people who are going to keep you from staying focused on your mission.

Staying informed and protecting your energy. Two very real goals that should be on all of our goals list but is so difficult to do at the same time. It's like their two magnets that just don't want to fit together side by side. So what do you do? How do you stay in the know and remain sane at the same time?

You should know that I'm still searching for the answer to this conundrum. But ever since the last election, I have learned a few tips and tricks that have helped me keep a healthy balance between the two.

Queen Maree's Tips for

Protecting Your Energy in a Troubled Society

1. Know it's not all bad

Just as there is so much negativity in this world, you must know that there is just as much, if not more positivity happening all over. Every minute a new healthy human is brought into the world, a doctor saves a life from the brink of death, a police officer protects a citizen in trouble. There are people all over the world starting non-profits, speaking to thousands of people, raising funds, sitting in the senate or in the house who are pure of heart and want nothing but to help people and provide hope.

Unfortunately, these stories very rarely make the news because they don't procure ratings. But you should know there is beauty all around us. The world isn't all bad. There are still so many great people in this world fighting the good fight.

2. Walking in your Purpose is your way of Helping

All those people out there doing good and thriving in the face of adversity are walking in their purpose. They are doing what they were put on this earth to do. When you wonder what you could be doing to help make the world a better place, just know that aligning your self with your purpose and following your goals and dreams is the best place to start.

No matter what your gift is: cutting hair, cutting grass, singing, dancing, math, science, driving, or talking on the phone, when you use your gift to help people you are making a positive difference in the world.

3. Become a Proactive Informant

Stop letting the news come to you. Instead, take the initiative and read up on what's happening in the world on your own time and in your own way. So many times we get alerts or come across something on social media that just catches us off guard and that can be debilitating. Instead choose a moment every day to look into what's going on around you for a certain amount of time every day. Read the newspaper with your breakfast in the morning. Watch the highlights during your lunch break. Listen to NPR on the way home from work. Whatever it is that you do, make sure you choose the time and place. That way, you are in the mindset to receive whatever you may come across in the news.

4. Limit Your Consumption

Once you choose a time and place to catch up on the news, limit your consumption outside of that. Turn off notifications and news alerts. Avoid clicking or or watching news stories that come across your feed. If you hear something in passing such as commercial or someone talking about something, don't look it up right away. Protecting your energy means remaining loyal to yourself.

You should already be limiting your social media in attempt to stay focused on your goals. But while you are scrolling through your feed, make sure it's customized to fit you and what you can handle seeing and consuming without attacking your energy. You don't have to follow or be "friends" with accounts that bring your energy down. You don't have to click on that graphic video. Adjust your news feed settings or block posts from certain accounts in order to protect your mental health.

5. Become the Change You Want to See

As Micheal Jackson said, change starts with you. If you want to create a positive world full of hope you need to make sure you are aligned with that mission yourself. A great place to start is with being kind to everyone you come in contact with. No matter what is going on in the world, you can completely change someone's day for the better by just being nice to them. A smile can go a long way. Share a smile with the person you pass on the street. Let the person behind you that has only one item, cut you and your full cart in line at the grocery store. Let that car merge in front of you on the freeway, you're only sacrificing a couple of seconds of time. Be kind and show compassion in everything that you do and it will spread like a wild fire.

Are these tips helpful? Have you found any tricks to help you stay sane while keeping up with the world around us? Let me know in the comment section below!

It's a beautiful day to conquer the world. So go forth, stay informed, protect your energy and slay!

-Queen Maree

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED OCTOBER 13, 2018