How do I stay connected to myself under challenging circumstances? The easiest and most accessible methods are physical and are mentioned in Little Known Ways to Relate to Oneself Part 2 (blog January 2014) . The next step is to become aware of our thoughts and feelings such that if we become unsettled, we can identify the source and address it.

A useful method in the moment is to say to oneself, “I love it when I feel calm” or “I love it when this is easy” or the like.

Another valuable method is to put aside time later that day to address the discomfort, its cause, and what could be done about it practically to make such a situation feel easier in the future or to keep oneself in a stronger frame of mind or state such that such a situation bothers us less. It is important to keep in mind that some stages in life are just difficult and whilst they can be improved practically to an extent, we may need to either wait until the challenge has passed or figure out how not to engage with it so dramatically in the present. When we can stay calm and not be bothered by a situation, we can accept it and transcend it and we know it will pass. This saves our energy, maintains our peace of mind, and allows us to focus on the things in our life that bring us more pleasure.