When someone asks how you’re doing, most of us say “Fine.” Or “Good.” Or we give some clever line that sounds upbeat and emotionally regulated. Meanwhile, inside we may be thinking, Is it just me, or is reality glitching?
If we’re really honest, many of us don’t feel fine. In fact, if you feel like you are going through hell spiritually, you are certainly not alone. We may sometimes feel entirely run over by the sheer pace and intensity of life right now.
There are destabilizations on many fronts. A hard-to-believe level of political and social upheaval is underway in the United States and globally. Economic uncertainty looms. Cultural polarization is at an all-time high. Leaders are behaving in ways that would have seemed like satire not long ago. At times it feels as if we accidentally stepped into a dystopian cable TV series, except there’s no pause button and no guarantee of a clean season finale.
And that’s just the external layer.
Understanding the Internal Shift
Internally, many people are noticing strange energy symptoms. We are experiencing exhaustion that makes no sense despite getting enough sleep, rapid mood swings, old fears unexpectedly resurfacing, and major ups and downs in our daily emotions. There is a lingering sense that the familiar ground we walk on is less solid than it used to be. The rug hasn’t just been tugged—it’s been yanked completely out from under us.
External upheaval is never only external. It mirrors something profound moving through collective consciousness, and that means it’s actively moving through us as well. In the long run, this global shift may be profoundly positive. Yet in the short run, it can feel like a spiritual crisis. The friction of growth is deeply uncomfortable.
So, how do you move from this hell into heaven without bypassing reality or pretending everything is fine?
It all comes down to where you anchor your identity.
The Cream Pie Room: Shifting Your Identity
Imagine walking through a room where machines are flinging cream pies at face level in every direction. If you stride through upright, indignant, and demanding that the pies stop flying, you’re going to get hit repeatedly. You will come out looking like a dairy-based cautionary tale.
But if you lower your profile, stay intensely aware, and move intelligently through the space, you can pass through without getting plastered.
The world right now is exactly like that room.
If your identity is rooted primarily in your conditioned self—your reactive mind, your past narratives, your deeply ingrained fear structures—you will keep getting hit. You will be battered by outrage cycles, destabilizing news, and the endless stream of digital provocation designed specifically by algorithms to keep you emotionally inflamed.
However, if your identity shifts into your deeper Self—what I call your Avatar Self, the pristine “you” that existed long before societal conditioning—the exact same world feels very different. From that elevated place of awareness, this chaotic era becomes one of the most extraordinary times to be alive.
Finding Heaven: Spiritual Resilience in the Midst of Chaos
Yes, there is undeniable chaos. Yes, these monumental shifts often make our physical bodies and mental states feel severely imbalanced. But there is also an unprecedented rise in global consciousness. The two are happening simultaneously. What looks like an absolute collapse is often just the necessary breakdown of distortions and corrupt systems that can no longer sustain themselves.
Transformation is rarely tidy. It doesn’t come with soft lighting and spa music. It comes with friction, exposure, and the uncomfortable, messy release of everything that has been suppressed for generations.
Heaven is not the absence of turbulence. It is the realization that you are not defined by it.
When you stabilize in your deeper identity, fear loosens its iron grip. Reactivity decreases. You stop feeding every outrage cycle that crosses your screen because you recognize it for what it is: a distraction. Your nervous system becomes more coherent and resilient. You begin to see opportunities for genuine contribution rather than only scanning the horizon for threats.
You may even notice something surprising: even in the middle of all this noise, consciousness is rising. Deep conversations that once felt impossible are happening openly. Old, broken systems are being exposed to the light. Hidden distortions are finally surfacing to be healed.
The chaos is not necessarily proof that we are doomed as a society. It may be the exact evidence we need that something long buried is finally coming to light.
You don’t need to defeat the chaos. You need to relocate your identity.
I’ve been practicing this every day. Not perfectly, of course. I still get hit with the occasional cream pie. But the fundamental difference between hell and heaven, I’ve found, is much less about what’s happening “out there” and almost entirely about where I’m standing inside myself.
5 Experiential Practices for Spiritual Stabilization
Below, I’ll share five practical ways to make that shift—not by psychological denial, but by actively stabilizing who you truly are. I’d love your participation in the comments: Which ones resonate? Which are you already practicing? What would you add?
1. Ground Yourself in Nature
Get out in nature, and do it often. We forget how unnatural and ungrounding modern civilization can be. From the relentless demands to multi-task, to the electromagnetic fields of our homes, to the addictive pull of digital devices, we are constantly pulled away from our center. Get outdoors. Find a place near you that is not man-made that nurtures your spirit. Whether it’s a local park, a forest trail, or just a quiet spot by a tree, reconnecting with the earth resets your frequency. Nature is my absolute wonder drug!
2. Support Your Physical Body
Take great care of your physical vessel. Spiritual awakening is a biological process as much as a metaphysical one. That means working out, walking, hiking, practicing yoga, stretching, and doing Qigong. It means deep breathing exercises that signal safety to your brain. Drink plenty of pure water and eat vital, good food. Just as importantly, cut down on energetic drains like artificial foods, refined sugar, excessive caffeine, and other stimulants. Your body is the instrument through which your Avatar Self experiences the world; keep it finely tuned.
3. Cultivate Inner Silence
Come into inner silence regularly. By simply following your breath for 5 to 30 minutes a day, you slow down the relentless noise of your conditioned mind and marinate in what is Real. Pay special attention to the pause periods between your in-breath and out-breath, and between your out-breath and in-breath—these are the most deepening spaces. You are literally stepping out of linear time when you fall into relaxed focus within those pauses. It may take some time and patience to calm an overstimulated nervous system, but it is well worth the effort. Perfection is not needed here—just steady, forgiving practice.
4. Minimize Toxic Influences
Minimize your intake of toxic, fear-based influences. I do check on the news each day by reading curated apps to stay informed, but I avoid 24/7 TV news like the plague. These broadcasts are designed to lower your vibration, trigger your fight-or-flight response, and keep you caught up in endless, terrifying narratives. We all need to find our own personal balance between staying adequately informed and staying sane. Protect your energetic boundaries fiercely.
5. Maximize Uplifting Energies
Maximize your intake of uplifting energies and conscious experiences. Spend time with other awakening Avatars—people who are also doing the inner work and who elevate your state of being. Listen to uplifting messages, and don’t hesitate to bring through your own wisdom to help uplift others. Read or listen to books that inspire, expand your heart, and inform you outside of the mainstream matrix.
I’ll share more of these tips in other posts, but the truth is, your soul already knows all this stuff. I’m simply here reminding you of what you already are.
Frequently Asked Questions About Spiritual Resilience
How do you stay grounded when going through spiritual challenges?
Staying grounded requires actively connecting to your physical body. When the mind is racing, experiential practices like walking barefoot in the grass, deep breathing exercises, or gentle energy healing can help stabilize your nervous system. These physical actions pull your awareness out of anxious thought loops and bring you back to the present moment.
What is the spiritual meaning of a dark night of the soul?
Many spiritual traditions view deep hardships and emotional exhaustion as a period of profound transformation, often called a “dark night of the soul.” It is a vital time when old patterns, limiting beliefs, and conditioned identities dissolve. While painful, this dissolution makes way for deeper spiritual resilience, the emergence of your true Avatar Self, and authentic self-awareness.
Can energetic practices help during an emotional crisis?
Yes, energetic practices can offer profound support by helping to clear stagnant energy and promote a sense of inner calm. Practices like Qigong, meditation, and breathwork serve as powerful complementary tools for emotional wellness. They focus on restoring your personal balance and bringing your nervous system back into coherence, allowing you to navigate crises with much greater clarity.
