SELF-CARE in these disturbing times

Maybe I'm just incredibly sensitive to the psychic forces of the social climate - or maybe I'm like everyone else, and we're all experiencing similar kind of feelings - but it's not hard for me to feel afraid these days. Afraid of the political and social climate and what might happen. Afraid of the sabre-rattling from Trump and Kim Jong-In. Afraid of the narrative of division that seems to be being fed to us through politics and the news.

We're being encourage to hate and fear each other. To blame particular groups for all the problems. To be collectivist in our thinking rather than individualist.

We need to take people as they are and stop pushing them all into stupid little boxes based on negative (and false) assumptions about whatever group they are a part of.

I'm scared of what's happening. I'm scared of the future. And I wonder how many people out there feel like me. How many people feel frightened, alone and powerless to stop whatever catastrophes may come?

I think self-care is of vital importance in such times. I find entertainment to be of immense solace to my soul. Comedies, movies, music, novels. The arts, I believe, afford spiritual nourishment and protection.

Perhaps all we can do is take a deep breath, a step back, and withdraw into our world of art, of entertainment, and cut us ourselves off from the streams of negativity emanating from politics, from angry, vicious and manipulative agendas. Perhaps we need to cosset and stroke our minds, soothe our psyches and understand that perhaps the best thing we can do is to take care of ourselves. We can protect and preserve our emotional health this way, and maybe, by refusing to be sucked into this tornado of hatred and aggression, we can show, by example, another way. We can carve out another pattern, and those who are inspired can follow.

But most of all, we must make sure we are all right. We must care for and love ourselves enough to prioritise the avoidance of emotional damage. We must tell ourselves, "We are worthy. We deserve happiness. We deserve peace."

And in creating emotional peace for ourselves, perhaps we can help spread it to others.