So much in the world feels harsh and hard. In many parts of the country, the weather has been brutally cold and dangerous. The images and stories of government-sanctioned brutality around the country and now in our own state are beyond distressing.

Yesterday, I talked with my spiritual director about how scattered I’ve been. It helped to share my feelings, and I was reminded of a tool that has helped me when feeling anxious. Based on the “Eisenhower matrix,” this little grid helps me to stop anxiously spinning my wheels, like my little car trying to get up our icy driveway.

First, I made a list of things that were swirling in my mind: distress over the state of the world, the need to send this newsletter, summer camp registrations for my son, etc. Then I sorted them according to these questions and placed them on the grid.

• What are high priority concerns that I can change?
• What are high priority concerns that I cannot change?
• What are low priority concerns that I can change?
• What are low priority concerns that I cannot change?

Below you can see my scribbled attempt to settle my mind and see where I can take baby steps. Here is a Blank Grid for stressors if you’d like to print one and try this exercise yourself. The top left quadrant – high priority, able to address – are the areas that reduce my stress quickly and give me a sense of accomplishment. I’m focusing on these and thankfully feel my inertia thawing.

Seeing which items landed in the bottom left quadrant – low priority, able to address – encouraged me to see if I could ask for help from Limina staff or Bill. Some of these things will become higher priority and then I’ll address them. And seeing what was in the bottom right quadrant – low priority, hard to address – made it easier for me to let them go (for now).

The most emotionally challenging area is the “HIGH PRIORITY concerns that are HARD TO ADDRESS.” This is also the most nuanced area because items that land in this quadrant – like the state of the world, illness of a loved one, or a strained relationship – can cause feelings of powerlessness and overwhelm. And yet even in the face of these huge worries, there are always ways to respond with a heart of love.

Doing this exercise helped my mind calm down and I was able to connect with hope. For the first time in weeks, I heard the sound of dripping water as the snow started melting! And heard the birds serenading the slightly longer days! And I heard stories of human kindness and compassion from faith communities in Southern Maine who are supporting immigrants targeted by ICE. Episcopal Maine has an extremely helpful set of resources that can be found here, along with ways to financially support the churches who are serving people terrified by our government.

And I finished knitting a red protest hat, joining crafters all over the world who are silently protesting violence against fellow humans perpetuated by our government. The Norwegian roots of this pattern come from millions of red hat protestors against the Nazi occupation of Norway, and was so effective that Hitler banned the hats. All proceeds from the sale of the “Melt the ICE” pattern on Ravelry will go to immigrant aid agencies who will distribute the funds to those impacted by the actions of ICE.

Taking care of ourselves is more urgent that ever. It is essential that we continue to radiate peace and love into this hurting and broken world, and act where appropriate in our local communities. I pray that you find ways to care for yourselves in this stressful time.

We send you all love and abundant blessings,

Libby