Hi,
I'm Katie and welcome.
So I'm taking on a pretty big topic here today.
And that's a topic of collective trauma.
What is it,
And gosh,
Is there a possibility of healing it?
So first,
I'd like for you to consider all the people in this world,
On this beautiful planet,
On this beautiful Earth.
Who are dealing or struggling with some kind of trauma or anxiety or stressor in their own lives.
Maybe they're working through their childhood stuff.
Maybe they're dealing with a body in pain or that has illness.
Maybe they're in a really difficult relationship or experiencing ongoing financial stress.
Maybe they're struggling with a loss or a mental health issue or an addiction of some kind.
And so.
Add on top of that the experience of all the chaos that's in our world today and the many different ways that I don't have to explain because I know you already know.
So you mix these two things together and you get a population,
A society,
A world that is just buzzing with nervous system activation as a collective.
Collective trauma.
And you know there is a frequency of trauma and energy.
Peter Levine,
Who created somatic experiencing,
He talked about the resonant field.
And this is a field where our nervous systems are essentially transmitting and receiving information from others and our environment as a whole.
Now we can't measure this resonant field.
But it's there.
It's a force and it can be quite palpable at times.
So can we actually heal collective trauma?
Again,
The question at hand.
This might seem like a really tall order these days.
And you know,
I kind of like to stay on the positive side of things.
And I think,
Yes.
Yes,
We can.
We've got some real work to do.
And I certainly don't claim to have all of the answers.
And I have no way of knowing what the future actually holds.
I don't think.
Any of us do.
But here's a few things that I think can help.
So number one.
Start working on your own healing journey.
And I know that can be hard sometimes and that can be scary.
And if you don't know how or where to start,
You have all of these amazing resources here to support you.
Therapist and guides and teachers just lighting the way for you,
Maybe opening the door,
Holding your hand,
So to speak.
Number two.
Realize that your neighbor.
Your partner,
Your children,
Your coworker,
That stranger over there.
Is likely going through something too.
They're living in this as well.
And so from that.
Number three.
Practice loving kindness.
Metta,
Compassion towards yourself and compassion towards others.
This love thing,
This compassion thing,
Little acts of random kindness is the most potent form of medicine I think there is.
And they may seem small,
But over time they can add up.
You know,
I told a guy in the elevator the other day when I was leaving work that I really liked his tie.
I mean,
I couldn't help but say something.
It was a remarkably groovy tie.
And he looked up and he smiled this beautiful smile and he said,
Thanks so much.
I wore this tie all day.
I was so excited to wear it and Nobody noticed.
Nobody even noticed.
Number four.
Try to remember that there is still beauty in this world.
It's on every corner in my opinion,
You just gotta find a way to look at it.
Once we find our way out of the trauma vortex,
We might start noticing other things.
Now yes,
There are many scary things too.
No doubt.
I am not trying to discount the legitimacy of all of that.
But trauma,
It has a way of making us feel stuck.
Maybe even isolated,
And like there are no options.
And it really narrows our focus.
And so lastly.
Once you feel like you've kind of got your healing journey going and you're starting to notice the experience of that and how it plays out.
Pay it forward.
You're invited to pay it forward in some way.
Trauma healing is also.
Deeply relational.
When we can be seen and supported and feel safe with ourselves and with others.
Oh gosh,
Really beautiful things can happen.
It's quite remarkable,
Actually.
So share your light.
That's what we need most in times of darkness.
So again,
Can we part the dense clouds of collective trauma?
I think so.
Again,
We've got some work to do.
And hopefully,
Maybe you agree with me.
Maybe you agree that it's possible.
And as John Lennon sang so beautifully after he.
Tragically left this earth.
Some say I'm the dreamer.
No,
I'm not the only one.
Thank you for being here.
Be well,
Friends.
