Rehearsing Goodness When The World Feels Heavy

I was talking to my husband James about the world lately about current events, his political stance, and the things in the news he’s been heartbroken about.

James spends a lot of time staying informed, studying world events, researching politics, and exploring different perspectives. Over the past 24 years of being with him, I’ve never known anyone whose worldview has evolved more sincerely than his, steeped in genuine concern for others and a quiet passion for the wellbeing of humanity.

We were talking about the last couple weeks of news, and he asked me what my stance was… where I find myself politically these days.

He knows I like to stay informed but that I also deeply believe in protecting the body’s sense of safety and peace. Especially for highly-sensitive Creatives, there’s an important balance.

I’m very aware of how loud the media is.
And also of the truth that there are heavy, awful, and confounding things happening that ask for our action.

I’m open to however I’m meant to move on behalf of what I believe is right.

But when I check in internally, my call to action feels the same as it has for years:

To offer hope.
To remind people of their deep worth.
To impart dignity to every person who comes into contact with me.
And to teach people, especially Creatives, how to navigate dysregulation in their nervous systems and return to peace, over and over again.

Which is exactly why a daily practice of brain retraining feels so important.

We call it RE-training because our brains have already been trained to expect certain things based on what we’ve lived through.

And if you feel stuck in unhelpful patterns or habits, if you’re not living in alignment, you probably know how easily our brains get programmed with fear, shame, and confusion.

Brain retraining simply means spending daily time intentionally reliving memories you’re grateful for: moments of connection, joy, or peace.

And also rehearsing memories you’d like to have in the future, moments where you feel lit up, doing what you love, with the people you love.

Today, if you feel weighed down by the news and the future looks hopeless, remember:
The most powerful thing you can do is give yourself a dose of safety and connection by visualizing goodness.

Let’s try it together now.

Pick a memory from the past where you felt inspired, hopeful, or connected.

Maybe it was performing or writing.
Maybe it was laughing until tears rolled down your face.
Maybe it was the best cup of coffee of your life on a quiet, beautiful morning.

Whatever it was, go there.

What were you wearing?
What could you see in front of you?
Who was with you?
What time of day was it?
What were you thinking?
What emotions were you feeling?

See if you can hold that memory in your body as you sift through the details.
Take a few slow breaths.

If it feels shaky or disappears as soon as it arrives, that’s okay. That still counts.

Every brain retraining “rep” builds on itself and sends small cues of safety to your nervous system, helping you increase your sense of peace over time.

And people who feel safe…
Well, those are the ones connected to their wisdom, courage, and love— exactly what our world needs from you.

If you’re ready to dive deeper into brain retraining, check out Rehearsing Goodness: a digital guide with audio visualizations (with a 5-minute, 10-minute, and 20-minute option depending on how much time you have each day) that will guide you through fully experiencing moments of safety, peace, and connection.

I hope you know that you are so deeply loved.

Courtney