Escaping the Energy-Sapping Vampires of “COVID Consciousness”

Photo: our grateful thanks to James Wheeler on Unsplash!

Marcel Hernandez, N.D.

As I write this, we’re two-plus years into COVID.  Unless you’re part of an isolated jungle tribe in remotest Africa or Borneo, your life is certain to have been impacted by the pandemic.

On the level of the body, COVID’s effects run a gamut from mild flu-like symptoms to far more serious multi-organ and autoimmune conditions with symptoms that may last weeks or months.

The multi-organ effects can involve many systems: heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, skin, and brain.

Emotionally, COVID can promote generalized stress, anxiety, fear, sadness, numbness, anger, frustration, and loneliness.

Marcel Hernandez, ND

People with mental health issues have found their challenges deepening. Consumption of alcohol, tobacco, and drugs has risen across all segments of society in the last two years.

We all know this.  The media regularly bray forth the latest depressing stats, inducing information overload and mental shutdown from the glut of negative data.

How can we stay healthy and positive?

Einstein said, ““We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them.”

What are the implications for rising above COVID-consciousness?

When you’re stuck in a bad situation that seems like it will never end, wading through the same old morass of thoughts and emotions will only deepen the confusion.  Like a fly in a spider web, the more it struggles the more stuck it becomes.

To solve “COVID consciousness,” I’m pretty sure Einstein would suggest that we step aside mentally and put all of our attention very strongly on that which will strengthen us – i.e., that we take steps to bolster our inner strength, our understanding, and our inner peace and calmness, and that we drop out of “problem consciousness” and develop “solution consciousness” instead.

Obviously, we can’t simply dismiss the reality of COVID, but we can change how it affects US.

Obviously, it won’t be easy, but here’s the good news: there are tools that can help us rise into a calm, empowered, higher perspective.

  • Mindfulness meditation teaches the deeply practical value of observing without reacting.  If you sit quietly for even a short while, calmness will begin to seem an option, and a flowing source of upbeat solutions.
  • Simple yogic breathing is a powerful tool that’s available anywhere, anytime.  Breathe in slowly to a count of five, hold for three and exhale on five.  Do this three times and see what happens to your perspective. Close your eyes if you like, or keep them open.  I’ve found this silent yogi-ninja practice extremely helpful not only in my meditations but in countless emotionally charged meetings and encounters.  Guaranteed to work every time.
  • Exercise is an ultimate stress-buster!  Even a brisk walk that slightly elevates your heart rate will release those “feel-good” exercise endorphins.
  • Spiritual counseling can open you to solution-oriented perspectives that will diminish the mental/emotional COVID cold sweats.

These four simple practices will help you deal with all kinds of life situations that may seem beyond your control.

It’s important to remember that our reactions to external events are born and nurtured in our own consciousness, and that this is where the most effective solutions must start.

For information about the services we offer at Pacific Naturopathic, please give us a call at 650-961-1660, use the convenient Contact Form to get in touch, or follow the link to: Consultations – Pacific Naturopathic. Thank you!