Waving my B.H.E. in the Wind
November 2024 - We are here. The time is now. All of our shadow work has led us to this point…
I’m writing this piece just a few days after a presidential election in the United States of America, while polls for national office have been–or will be–held in more than 60 countries this year. There is a major shift in the world, one that we’ve not collectively lived through before. Many are divided, polarized and rigid in their respective camps while deeming those with different beliefs as “the enemy”.
People seem to be fueled by chaotic emotions, similar to the chaotic weather patterns caused by climate change. (In my home state of New Jersey, we haven’t had substantial rain since August 26th - 75 days.)
No pressure, right?
Wrong. There is immense pressure. The tension is palpable and we humans are in a state of hyper-vigilance.
This got me thinking. Hmm, when was the last time things felt like this and how did I personally handle it? What lessons could I call on to help me avoid fight, flight or freeze aka. Survival mode? Well, outside of the early days of the pandemic when people were living in a constant state of fear and literally fist fighting over toilet paper, the attacks of September 11th came to mind.
I was a freshman in college on that gorgeous Tuesday morning, beyond excited to be in my first art class. The teacher called for everyone’s attention, told us that class was being canceled and that the campus was being evacuated. She asked us to calmly and quickly pack up, leave through the rear classroom door and go home. My heart sunk. I did as I was told and drove home, making it in time to see the second plane hit the South Tower. I realized that the world would never be the same and surmised my dreams of one day going to art school were no longer possible. Having spent the majority of my adolescence battling depression and anxiety due to my extreme sensitivities, this hopeless feeling was nothing new.
And so, I gave up. I froze, stuck in fear, and closed off pieces of my heart and soul to keep them safe. I hid my true self and cycled through anger, bitterness and resentment landing in an eventual place of just plain being numb. I even attempted to end my own life. It took years of grace, love, support, hard work and therapy to heal those broken parts in order to release my heart and soul from their shackles and truly feel alive again.
Now, by this point you are probably thinking, “What the hell does this have to do with anything Beth?” Great question!
Wait for it….instead of giving in to fear this time, I’m summoning every ounce of my B.H.E. or Big Heart Energy.
If there is anything I’ve learned on my healing journey, it’s that every day we have a choice. We can choose to lower our vibrations by allowing our fears and insecurities to follow us around like a rain cloud, or we can choose to vibe higher and allow those same fears and insecurities to fuel us into action. And, guess what? High vibrations attract high vibrations (the inverse is also true).
Choosing high vibrations doesn’t mean that I don’t cry or get angry or drop the F-bomb regularly. I do–ALL the time. Just ask my husband…I can be very stubborn. #PolishFemaleTaurus
Having learned what resilience means by persevering through hard times, I refuse to go back into a small head space. Instead, I choose to show up, everyday, with grace, gratitude and wonder at the opportunity I–we–have to be alive right now. Let me also point out that you can both have a big heart, and flight like hell against injustice and wrong doing. There is a BIG difference between being complicit and being discerning.
It’s my firm belief that these current times are challenging ALL of us to examine our vibrations and ponder what type of ripple we make in the world on a daily basis. This is our time to show up with high vibes to heal ourselves, each other and the planet.
Take the time you need to process your thoughts, feelings and emotions. Then, take action. It could be as simple as feeding the birds or going for a walk, or it could be joining a volunteer organization to assist your community. How will you find your flame, no matter how small it may be right now, and provide it with the oxygen it needs to grow?
The choice is yours.
Trust me, claim that B.H.E.–Big Heart Energy–and get ready for a wild ride.
