Calmness in Chaos
On January 11, 2023, my husband almost died in front of our family after a seemingly routine gallbladder removal surgery that took place on January 10, 2023, the day after his 39th birthday. Despite a successful surgery and a few hours of observation on the 10th, he suddenly fainted starting the evening of the 10th and loosing conciousness. I suspected it was a side effect of the Oxycodone, but his condition worsened the next day, and we rushed to the hospital where they discovered a serious complication that required emergency surgery.
In the emergency room, a large team of nurses and doctors attended to my husband, conducting multiple tests including ultrasounds which revealed a concerning issue on the left side. They rushed him into another surgery, leaving me feeling overwhelmed and tearful. My heart san I questioned myself for not bringing him in sooner, but the doctors reassured me that I did the best I could while also taking care of my children.
I blamed myself and contemplated how things can change so quickly, including regret for past fights with my husband. Despite feeling unprepared for his potential loss, I recognized that the situation was out of my control. However, amidst the chaos, a voice spoke to me, assuring that everything would be okay. This helped me remain calm during my husband's surgery, which ultimately went well despite him losing 2 liters of blood. He spent 4 days in the hospital and another 3 weeks recovering at home. The voice had been right - everything turned out fine.
I felt calmness during choas. I reflected on how I was able to access that voice which was so powerful and helped me be at peace with the situation.
The first step to finding peace in chaos is to acknowledge and accept the situation. Once we accept this reality, we can begin to focus on what we can control - our thoughts and actions.
One of the best ways to find peace in chaos is through mindfulness practices. Mindfulness is the practice of being present in the moment and observing our thoughts and feelings without judgment. This practice allows us to detach from the chaos around us and focus on our internal state. We can do this through meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simply taking a moment to pause and focus on our breath. For me, during that tough time, taking long breathes helped me generate that voice within me.
Another way to find peace in chaos is through gratitude. It can be easy to focus on what is going wrong in our lives, but taking a moment to focus on what is going right can shift our perspective and bring us peace. We can practice gratitude by taking time each day to write down things we are thankful for, or simply reflecting on the positive things in our lives. For me, during that tough time, I was practicing gratitute for having my husband and my family in life.
In addition, connecting with others can also bring us peace in chaos. Talking to friends or family members, or even seeking out a support group, can provide us with a sense of community and help us feel less alone in our struggles.
Lastly, it is important to remember that chaos is temporary. This too shall pass. By keeping this in mind, we can focus on taking one step at a time and working towards a solution rather than getting overwhelmed by the chaos.
In conclusion, finding peace in chaos is possible with mindfulness, gratitude, connection, and a reminder that chaos is temporary. By practicing these techniques, we can navigate through the chaos and find peace within ourselves.
