Finding Calm in the Chaos
Feeling overwhelmed? It’s easy, given the climate we’re in right now. I chose to take a step back over the holiday weekend.
My intent was to clear my head and hear more from God. There’s too much noise out there right now. I’m tired of people fighting on Facebook, I’m tired of COVID, I’m tired of not being able to do business as usual. So, I took a break to disconnect and unplug.
As you may have guessed, the effects of social media have only gotten worse since I first began working with kids with ADHD issues back in 1995. Our brains and our central nervous systems have been rewired, as we feel the need to instantly react to everything. Our mood can change based on how many “likes,” “comments,” or “shares” we receive.
Deciding to disconnect
As a business owner, I unfortunately can’t completely disconnect and walk away from social media. However, I don’t have to continually bow down at its altar. We can try to appease the algorithm gods by creating content that they feel is important or worthy to be seen by our friends and followers. But what do we really gain in the end? I decided that I needed to change my attitude, not my algorithms. So, I stepped off the hamster wheel. What I realized is that it really was hard not to touch my phone. It’s almost like an addiction. So, I did these things instead:
1) I put my phone out of reach.
2) I set up an “away message” on my email. I haven’t done that in years.
3) I ordered books from Amazon. I zipped through them already.
4) I stepped away from my devices and went outside. My husband and I went to different local parks with ponds or lakes and hiked the trails.
5) I had conversations with God and wrote in my journal. I did this outside.
6) I tried something different: Prophetic drumming. I’ve done this using hand drums but not the drum set. I didn’t realize it had a name. It’s very powerful.
I took it one step further. I recorded a quick video of me doing prophetic drumming and posted it on Instagram. This was very scary for me since it’s a bold statement of faith and my spiritual gifts. I also have never done this outside of church. But hey, I took a deep breath and gave it a shot.
All of the six things above had a calming effect and also provided some much-needed clarity. I felt lighter and more hopeful. I created this drumming video with some healing beats and rhythms that might help you as well. It’s a little over 3 minutes. Take a listen:
Which of the 6 tips above do you think might help you as well? Feel free to leave a comment below!
Would you like to feel the healing power of drumming? Yes, we can do this virtually. Private or group sessions (with or without a drum on your side). We can start with just a free call to see how I can help. Click here to schedule a time on my calendar.
Dori Staehle, MBA is from the Raleigh, NC area and is a certified drum therapist, drum teacher, percussionist, mentor, ADHD coach, Toca percussion artist, and owner of Next Stage Drumming. Her mission is to empower kids and adults and help them focus, get unstuck, and heal – with drumming! Dori is also an inspirational speaker, and author of Find Your Divine Rhythm: A Creative’s Success Formula. She will soon be releasing her second book, which is about rising up and finding your purpose. Dori is able to deliver talks and training virtually to anyone all over the world.
