The answer to the Big Question...

Hasn't the world been a challenging place the last few years? Whether you are struggling with a significant personal challenge, the various calamities happening across the globe, or the disturbing politics happening in Washington, D.C. ( I am trying really hard to remain neutral here), the Big Question I know I ask myself is HOW do I continue to mentally and emotionally cope with these situations? Where is the relief from the continuous non-stop emotional and mental anguish? I don't know about you, but my personal outrage meter is full. You are not alone. So how DO we cope? Especially when there seems to be no end in sight?

The answer..is BIGGER than us.  Literally, it is bigger than us.  I stood at the oceans' shore a few weeks ago, amazed at the simple magnitude of it all. Mesmerized by the waves, dwarfed by the sheer power of the water, lulled by the continuous roar of the sea,  I stood in the ocean giving thanks to the one I call "God" for the beautiful experience. Then as the peacefulness filled me, I had a moment of clarity.  I WAS CALM. My mind was uncluttered. My heart was full of gratitude and joy in that moment. The death-grip of everything else that was previously happening around me, was gone. I was connecting to something BIGGER than myself. In that moment of realization, I was filled with a knowing. I had found my answer to the Big Question.  We cope by connecting to something, or "someone", bigger than ourselves. Was the ocean  a pathway to my something  or "someone" bigger? Or could the ocean BE the something bigger? Either way, for me it brought about a peaceful calmness, and "space" in my mind for me to think, "space" in my mind for me to move passed the emotions of EVERYTHING ELSE.

Let's just explore this idea of "something bigger than yourself".  I am not suggesting that you go find a situation or "worry"  that is bigger than the current "worry" you are dealing with.  I am suggesting that you experiment and discover what is YOUR something bigger. It could be time spent walking in the woods, or sitting next to the cozy glow of a fireplace watching the flames dance. Your something bigger could be that run out in the chilly morning air, taking in all the beautiful sounds and sights of the day. Your something bigger could be sitting in the silence of meditation, connecting to the "God of your understanding". Your something bigger could be allowing the notes of a beautiful sonata fill your heart and soul with the universal love language of music. Whatever your something bigger is, being grateful for it, and connecting to the "bigger power" of love around us, will go a long way in releasing the tension and anxiety associated with your current issue or issues. I like to think of these moments of calm, peace, and  "oneness" as "miracle moments". These moments have such power, the power to help us to re-group and move through these mentally challenging and emotionally demanding times. These "miracle moments" help to ground and center ourselves, giving us the "space" in our minds to think more clearly, more rationally, as we deal with the everyday stresses that is our world around us.

The answer to the "Big Question"?...find your "something bigger" and be grateful for it. Do it as often as you need to. Allow yourself to have your "miracle moments".  And as you do..... you may just end up realizing how much of a "miracle" YOU and the world around you, really ARE.