"Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!" exclaimed Dorothy, the Tin Man, and the Scarecrow, repeating faster and faster as they cling to each other, walking down the yellow brick road. (The Wizard of Oz)
Oh, my, indeed! People are waking up to floods carrying away cars, tornadoes tearing off roofs, fires burning down trees, locusts devouring the fields, and now the coronavirus spreading death everywhere. This is not the best of times, especially if you're an insurance company.
Given the uncertainties and catastrophes surrounding us, is there a way to create an island of peace and strength? What can provide the resilience we want against the storms of life?
Facing Our Fears: Life and Death and All the Catastrophes in Between
Tornadoes, Viruses, and Fires Oh My!
For today's insight, I'm not trying to play the cello while the Titanic sinks. I realize that the catastrophes we are facing are serious and devastating. I also understand why fear would be an appropriate response to life-threatening events.
However, despite the fear and paranoia around us, I have also noticed my lack of fear and continued peace. As I wondered why I've remained calm, I came to understand more about myself. Perhaps my realizations will help you at this time also, though they are not meant to tell you how you should be, or what you should do, when confronted with crises.
1. Coronavirus is a mirror that reflects our attitude towards death and dying. I hope you won't roll your eyes at this, but the most important reason that I feel continued peace comes from my understanding of death and dying. I've gone through phases of reading about near-death experiences and pre-death experiences. Also, my past spiritual experiences help me to see life as an eternal state of being. Everything I've learned has left me feeling reassured and positive about death and dying. Death, to me, is a shift to another sphere of being. I also trust that dying will not be as painful or awful as it appears, but will be softened through divine support. I may be wrong, but I believe that there is no need to fear death or dying. It is a door to a lighted room.
2. The second reason I feel calm is because coronavirus doesn't seem to be dangerous to those with a healthy immune system. The symptoms can remain mild when addressed by a strong immune system. My 18 years in holistic medicine has strengthened and improved my health. I've followed some of my own advice with supplements and doing energy work. Now's the time to test whether the holistic principles I've learned can hold their ground.
I don't want to hang my health on "not touching my face" or the supply of masks on Amazon. I know that when it comes down to it, I must rely on my immune system to be my shield and protector. I must trust my innate health.
There are so many ways functional interventions can strengthen our immune system. Here are just a few ideas: liposomal vitamin C, smoothies high in nutrients, elderberries, garlic, Organifi Immunity, essential oils like Thieves, and homeopathics like Oscillococcinum. Also, it is important to keep a positive emotional state, drink clean water, and get enough rest.
3. The third reason I remain calm comes from my values, which are spiritual rather than material. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate beautiful things and material comforts, but, like flowers or clouds, their beauty comes and goes. Buddhism teaches us that suffering comes from our attachments and that detachment leads to inner peace. I will not let loss determine who I am or how I should feel. I will let stuff go and be grateful for what remains.
By grounding ourselves in eternal principles that establish peace, life can try to scare us and make us suffer through loss, death, and destruction—Dorothy's lions, tigers, and bears—but we can remain strong and resilient in spite of everything. In doing so, we can eliminate one of the most powerful influences that undermine our health: fear itself.