THE FINANCIAL CRISIS AND YOUR MENTAL HEALTH

Are you, like so many of us, caught up in the fear and urgency the current financial crisis has generated, feeling that life is an emergency?If so, it’s important to realize that there are two aspects to this “crisis.” Of course, you may need to spend some time taking a clear-eyed look your financial situation to determine what actions you might need to take—cutting back on spending, paying off the credit cards, working additional hours.

But is it possible that this global financial breakdown might also be a time for us to remember something very important that we may have forgotten in the mad rush to acquire ever more ‘things’ in the mistaken belief that that is what will make us happy?The word crisis, from the Greek krisis, literally, “decision,” refers to “the turning point for better or worse . . . a radical change of status in a person’s life . . . the decisive moment . . . “Perhaps it is time to remember that the material things of life—car, flat-screen TV, a second or third car, more expensive furniture, jewelry, come and go.If we have these material things, but don’t have that which brings deeply felt meaning to our lives—love, commitment, friendship, a feeling of belonging—they are empty, meaninglessness artifacts.

Paradoxically, simplicity, fewer things, fewer activities, may help us to cut through lives of greater and greater complexity and materialism to what truly matters—heart: our own hearts, the hearts of others, and the heart of the world.

CRISIS

Sometimes it takes a crisis to change things we know are wrong.We knew we, and our children, were becoming too reliant on material things, on our toys (for children and grownups!), on television, video games, iPods, and other electronic media. We knew that our cars were getting too big, our credit cards bloated, and our calendar too packed.We knew that we were getting tired, very tired, but we had to keep up the “life style” we had become accustomed to.We knew that our relationship with our partner was taking the back seat while we worked to make the money that would sustain the home we barely spent time in.We knew that there was within us a growing emptiness that no big house, SUV or big screen TV could fill.But, we thought, we just need a little more, and then we can relax.

THE TREADMILL

The culturally supported urge to fill in the blanks with over-activity and material things developed slowly over time, so slowly that it began to seem that it had always been this way.Societal and media intervention led us to believe there was no other way to be happy.Women had it especially hard, because when they finished their work day at their paying job they knew they had to go home to care for home, food, and children.A casualty of the women’s liberation movement, women were “liberated” to fulfill at least two full time occupations at one time:wife, mother, and worker.Men didn’t have it much easier, with some working more than one full-time job.For the working class and middle class the pressures were enormous, especially for those with extensive commutes.

REMEMBER PRESENCE

Reconsider “presents” as “presence”: consider the gift of the bird that continues to sing in the depth of winter, the brilliant dawn, the falling snow, the way sunlight filters through your living room curtains. Watching and listening to the myriad of technological communicators is no substitute for talking, communicating, listening, and even singing together.STOP THE WORLD, just for a moment and hear the sweet sound of silence.This costs nothing.Take a walk and see the beauty in the world, smell the sea salt in the air as you walk the beach, listen to the sea gulls.Allow yourself to remember who you are, how you feel, what you long for.Check in to your dreams.How are you doing?

GRATITUDE EXERCISE

Here is an exercise to help you remember that the glass is half full, not just half empty:Take just five minutes.You may feel you don’t have the time, but when you notice the effects this exercise has on your life, you may change your mind.

Sit in a quiet place with no distractions (yes, it may be hard, but you can do it). Place your feet on the floor as you remain in a seated position.Place your hands in your lap comfortably, and then close your eyes.Breathe.Notice your breath.Do not change it, just notice it.Notice it slow down and deepen as you remain quiet.Notice your thoughts as though you were observing a parade.Allow the parade to pass, not attaching yourself to any of those thoughts.The parade moves on.

Bring the focus of attention to your shoulders.Allow them to release and drop.Notice the muscles in your neck, and allow them to elongate and melt.Follow with your awareness any tight spots or areas of attention and deeply focus on those areas.You will notice that as you concentrate on them, they will shift, change or migrate.Once you are no longer drawn to any area of pain, pressure, or heaviness, allow yourself to simply Be.Invite images of those things in your life that you are grateful for.Allow this new parade to pass before your inner eye.Do not try to conjure, allow.

Just Be. Breathe.

DECISION POINT

As I mentioned earlier, the word crisis refers to a decision point.Like many life challenges, this crisis requires us to consider what we truly value?What will you decide?

Blessings to you,

Cynthia