Sheila D. Boynton, LSW, MDiv, CTCP, CAMS-I
Hello Soul Family,
My original plans for this month’s newsletter were to talk about “the why…” of our lives. But, as I reflected on the chaos of our country, communities, and corners, I was led in a different direction knowing the world feels like a lot right now. Let’s be real for a moment – the news and social media lately has been too much. And if you’re feeling stressed, anxious, or just straight-up overwhelmed from all the political drama, global crises, and doomscrolling…you’re not the only one. Don’t let anyone fool you. It’s normal to feel anxious, overwhelmed, or even powerless in the face of so much upheaval. But ongoing exposure to stress without healthy coping tools can lead to burnout, emotional exhaustion, and even physical symptoms. We all need a little peace right now!
Peace doesn’t mean pretending everything’s fine. It’s not about toxic positivity or “just being grateful.” Peace is about learning how to stay steady when life is messy. It’s the ability to pause, breathe, and make intentional choices instead of reactive ones. Understandably, for many of us, our emotions are all over the place. And if we’re honest, some of us don’t know why we’re feeling “a bit off.” In therapy, we talk about peace as: Feeling safe enough inside your own body and mind to handle what’s happening around you. It’s learning to breathe through the chaos — not run from it.
Here are a few strategies for peace:
1. Set boundaries with News & Social Media: Healthy boundaries don’t mean tuning out completely, they mean protecting your peace and mental clarity while staying informed in mindful ways.
- Mindful consumption to political content. Binging MSNBC & CNN is not healthy
- Establish screen-free periods for a digital detox
2. Build daily habits that help you regulate stress, such as:
- Movement: Walks, yoga, dance, or stretching
- Breathwork & Meditation: Even 5 minutes can shift your mindset
- Connection: Spend time with supportive people offline
- Joyful Breaks: Creative hobbies, music, cooking, gardening
- Spiritual Practices: Prayer, journaling, or connecting with purpose
JOURNAL PROMPTS
- What’s one small boundary I can set this week to protect my peace?
- Who can I reach out to if I need to process my emotions?
THE SOUL’S CORNER…
- Podcast Brené Brown with Dr. Amishi Jha on Finding Focus and Owning Your Attention
https://brenebrown.com/podcast/finding-focus-and-owning-your-attention/
