When Having a Difficult Time...
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Right now, in our country, and perhaps in other countries as well, people are having a challenging time in their lives. The pandemic is still claiming the lives of many people every single day.

For us, living on the west coast of the United States, the fires caused a huge amount of destruction, claiming lives, taking homes, and entire forests. And for us in this country, the protests against all that is unfair and unjust go on day after day, each day bringing more protests and news of another unjust killing of a black person.

And if this were not enough, for many people that I know personally and have heard about, there are personal struggles going on that are even bigger. So far, 2020 has proved for most people to be a very challenging year.

Feeling Lost?

It could be easy for a person to feel lost in all of this ongoing challenge. But how can we feel found?  Our son, John-Nuri, has been singing this beautiful song to me by Ben Platt. The words are so inspiring, some of which are copied here:

Have you ever felt like no one was there?
Have you ever felt forgotten in the middle of nowhere?
Have you ever felt like you could disappear?
Like you could fall and no one would hear?
 
Well, let that lonely feeling wash away
Maybe there's a reason to believe you'll be OK
Cause when you don't feel strong enough to stand
You can reach, reach out your hand.
 
And oh, someone will come running
And I know, they'll take you home
 
Even when the dark comes crashing through
When you need a friend to carry you
And when you are broken on the ground
You will be found
 
So let the sun come streaming in
'Cause you'll reach up and you'll rise again
Lift your head and look around
YOU WILL BE FOUND
YOU WILL BE FOUND 


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(You can hear our son sing this song at the bottom of this article.)

Asking for Support and Help

This pandemic is causing a lot of isolation for people, especially if they are following the guidelines and staying home. But in the words of this song we need to reach out our hand, and ask for support and help.

We need to trust that when we ask for help, for love or for connection, someone will come running with that love. Mr. Rogers always told the children in his audience that when they need help, they should look for the helpers, and they will always be there.

And we can concentrate on the Divine Helpers that can be felt but not seen. We can count on our Holy Mother and Heavenly Father to help us come back into our sense of being loved.

One of my favorite things to do during this period of challenge is to sit quietly all alone in a rocking chair or comfortable chair and wrap a soft blanket around myself. And as I rock slowly back and forth, I imagine the arms of the Holy Mother around me, holding me just like a baby or small child. And as I am rocking, I imagine Her saying to me, "Come into my arms and I will give you rest and peace. I love you. I am taking care of you. I am guiding you on the right path in life. All is well." 

I say those words to myself over and over until I can really feel and believe them and I know that I am deeply loved. Sometimes it helps to put my hand over my heart while I rock back and forth and say very softly, "Peace, Peace, Peace."

Be A Loving Light For Others

In addition to asking for help and feeling the divine comfort, it is important to be that loving light for others. Use your intuition and reflect on people that you know, and ask yourself if you feel they are needing extra love. Then call them or send them a loving email.

If you call them, do not talk about politics or the pandemic or other upsetting topics, tell them how much you care about them, ask them if they are needing help, tell them how much you love them. Being a true friend to others right now is a very healing thing and extremely important. Help to bring someone back home to their heart. Be the friend that can help someone feel found.

* Subtitles by InnerSelf

Book by this Author(s)

Heartfullness: 52 Ways to Open to More Love
by Joyce and Barry Vissell.

Heartfullness: 52 Ways to Open to More Love by Joyce and Barry Vissell.Heartfulness means so much more than sentimentality or schmaltz. The heart chakra in yoga is the spiritual center of the body, with three chakras above and three below. It is the balance point between lower body and higher body, or between body and spirit. To dwell in your heart is therefore to be in balance, to integrate the lower three chakras with the higher three.

Click here for more info and/or to order this book.

Also available as a Kindle edition

About the Author(s)

photo of: Joyce & Barry VissellJoyce & Barry Vissell, a nurse/therapist and psychiatrist couple since 1964, are counselors, near Santa Cruz CA, who are passionate about conscious relationship and personal-spiritual growth. They are the authors of 9 books and a new free audio album of sacred songs and chants. Call 831-684-2130 for further information on counseling sessions by phone, on-line, or in person, their books, recordings or their schedule of talks and workshops.

Visit their website at SharedHeart.org for their free monthly e-heartletter, their updated schedule, and inspiring past articles on many topics about relationship and living from the heart.

Listen to a radio interview with Joyce and Barry Vissell on "Relationship as Conscious Path".

More books by these authors

The song "You Will Be Found" by Ben Platt, sung by John-Nuri (Vissell), starts at 6:59 of the video:
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