By Dr. Dina Evan

This is the time of year in which we are reminded to be enormously grateful. HOWEVER, this year we are all looking like deer in headlights, wondering what in the hell in coming next. Is it more financial insecurity, fewer jobs, more rampant violence, more illness, shootings, crime, fraud or more lies. We literally have a potpourri of what feels like worries and looming catastrophes to choose from. So is there any surprise we are worried, exhausted and on sensory overload?

Many feel as if our families are missing in action because they too are over-whelmed and can’t take on another single thing. This of course, adds to their feelings of overload and guilt for not showing up, avoiding contact and not being unable to add to what is already on their plate. And let’s not even talk about what many of our elected officials are not doing while hiding behind walls of political deception. Okay, so what are we to do?

In my columns, you have read many times my favorite most powerful question… “What is this here to teach me?” No healing can begin without the bravery to ask that question.

The answer is truly not so difficult. We have to get real and honest with ourselves. We have to be thankful we have a voice with which to speak up, and a brain with which to select candidates who are truthful and unwilling to compromise our human inalienable rights. We need to get thankful we have the values and compassion, consciousness and truth to speak up, stand up and do something, even if it is something small — because a hundred small somethings create something big. We can talk about our values and beliefs and share awareness with those who seek to know and learn.

Many people have difficulty feeling metaphysical beliefs have any value. But did you know science has proven how powerful they are and how powerfully they work. For instance, every time you have a negative thought or belief come up in your mind if you repeat aloud or silently any one of these three words, three times, it tells your mind/brain not to retain that thought or feeling and it stops empowering it with energy. The words are delete/delete, or erase/erase, or cancel/cancel. Choose any one of these words and start using it. You will discover that negative thought very quickly arises less — if at all. In doing so you stop adding to the fear out there and inside of your own brain.

Instead, start adding energy to what you want with statements like:

• Abundance and prosperity flow to me freely
• My body is experiencing only health and wellness
• Only loving energy can have any effect on me in any way
• Only peace thrives on this planet
• Our elected official are now acting with compassion, values and ethics
• My family is safe and connected in compassion

Every fear you neutralize, and with every good feeling you empower, you are healing yourself, those around you and the planet. Right now we are stuck in fear, but the thing we can be most grateful for this Thanksgiving, is that we don’t have to be. We can take our power back and begin creating what we want without giving the responsibility to someone else, regardless of who they are, or what position they hold.

What might happen if we decided to be so grateful that for us, ethnicity, gender, color, sexual choices, or any difference simply does not matter at all and we will show love and acceptance to everyone. No one, elected or not, could control us regardless of who they are. We would be more energized and we could stop being afraid to feel. We could walk barefoot in our grass and be grateful for the lawn. We could be grateful that our crabby neighbor is teaching us patience. We can be grateful that by every smile and hand up, every value you share, every child you teach, every family member you support and every moment you take a deep breath, you can realize you are walking and living on purpose and doing what you came here to do. And THAT’S a lot to be grateful for!

Dr. Evan is a marriage, family, child therapist and consciousness counselor. She has presented nationwide seminars and workshops, written several books and created meditation CDs for couples, individual and mental health professionals. Visit drdinaevan.com or call 602-571-8228.