I woke up abruptly after having a dream I cannot remember.

After tossing and turning for an hour, unable to go back to sleep, I did what I shouldn’t have done — I picked up my phone. I found myself lost in tweets, articles, and threads on social media. My doomscrolling led to the following inner dialogue:

Should I be scared right now? No, I shouldn’t be concerned. I refuse to give my sanity and peace over. Then again, some concerning things really are happening right now. I need to call my elected officials. How do I stay informed about what’s going on in the world without going into a full-blown emotional and mental rabbit hole of negativity? I need to pray . . . and get some coffee. Not sure which I should do first, so I guess I’ll just pray and make coffee.

After an hour of aimless scrolling, I finally put down my phone, no closer to peace than when I first picked up my phone.  

I recently got a smart ring, and when I reviewed my sleep patterns from that night, I saw the exact hour I started looking at my phone. I noticed my heart rate spiked and I entered the stress zone. This was eye-opening for me.

Recently, someone asked me, “How do I stay informed about the world, but not check out? I feel anxious, so I had to mute the news.” This is a question I have asked myself, too. How do I protect my peace and stay engaged?

As we approach spring after a long, cold winter, I am continuously finding ways to stay inspired and hopeful. I think we could all use a little more sun on our skin — and even in our hearts. I remember traveling on a long international flight once. When I got home, I practiced grounding myself in peace by taking my shoes off and placing my feet in the grass for a few minutes. As spring approaches, I find myself practicing peace and “placing my feet in the grass” figuratively. (And I can’t wait to do it literally.)

Here are a few ways to protect your peace no matter what you might be going through.

1. Do something that makes you happy — and prioritize it. For me, I love to cook and find new recipes. I am currently on a journey to bake sourdough bread. I missed the 2020 wave of perfecting bread making, but five years later, I am trying something new. Yoga is also very grounding and healing for me, and I’ve decided to re-prioritize attending yoga classes at least twice a week.
2. Stop scrolling and redirect your energy. I am preaching to the choir with this one. If you find yourself feeling hopeless after scrolling through social media, redirect that energy into actions you can take on a local level in your community. You cannot take up every cause, so find two or three issues you really care about and focus your contributions and awareness on those areas. Find ways to have “quick wins” by taking actions on things that bring immediate results — like calling or emailing your elected officials and showing up to community meetings. Doing this will prevent you from giving up your agency and power.
3. Lean into your community. This is the time to open up your home and welcome your community in. Hang out with people, laugh, and play games together. Create spaces that are healing and welcoming. Fight the urge to isolate yourself and bury your head in the sand. 

In an effort to kick-start this journey of grounded inner peace, I offer a few quotes that bring me comfort:

“I have learned over the years that when one’s mind is made up, this diminishes fear.” —Rosa Parks

“Bringing the gifts that my ancestors gave, I am the dream and the hope of the slave. I rise. I rise. I rise.” —Maya Angelou

Like spring flowers, pushing up through the cold ground, we have the ability to bloom even in the hardest of circumstances. I believe that now is the time for us to dig deep and find ways to maintain our peace. I say this, drawing inspiration from my ancestors who survived so I could be here today. Their dedication, love, and persistence allow me to live in ways they were unable to. It’s my goal to honor their sacrifices and carry on their legacy of perseverance.

No matter my worries or what is going on in the world, I will not allow my happiness and joy to be snatched from me. I will not give anyone that power — and neither should you.

Sis, what is worrying you? How can you prioritize your mental and emotional health? How can you protect your peace? How are you finding ways to bloom and remain grounded?