Japan’s Disaster a Global Heartbreak

Much like the 6.3 earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand, the 8.9 earthquake in Japan has gripped the world’s attention. In recent years, we were also stunned by the aftermath of earthquakes in China, Chile, and Haiti. The collective loss of lives, devastation, and concern for the future of those surviving such enormous tragedies is profound. Their pain and suffering is felt throughout the world for several reasons.

First of all, our globe has become a small sphere given the connections we can make worldwide via the Internet, Facebook and Twitter. Relationships through business, networking, friendships and mastermind groups are all ways that we have come to “meet” people and develop a relationship with them via e-mail, instant messaging, telephone, and Skype. We may never meet them face-to-face, but that doesn’t mean the connection on a heart and soul level hasn’t been made. Feelings of worry, care and concern are still going to be normal regardless of whether you have actually had the opportunity to shake the person’s hand.

Secondly, people have become world travelers and/or live in different countries because of work or volunteer opportunities. In doing so, we meet lots of new people and after returning home the connections you made will be carried in your heart and soul. If something were to happen in an area where you made new friends ~ albeit it even briefly ~ again, you would likely experience some anxiety, concern and worry until you get news that all is well with them.

Last, but not least, we are humans with hearts that resonate with others when they feel sorrow and pain. Our hearts break for those who are suffering, even if we don’t know them, because we know what it is to live and love and we know what it means if we were to lose that.

So today, and any other day, when your heart is held captive to global sorrow, what should you do? Don’t dismiss it for starters. Take some time to stop and reflect on what you are feeling and give expression to those feelings. Are you feeling sad or anxious because you know someone or have made a connection with someone where the disaster struck? Or, are you consumed with the reality that life can turn on a dime and we never know when or what can take place that will change the world forever? Either way, here are some tips to help you work through the feelings you are having today:

• Allow yourself to reflect on the situation and understand why you feel the way you do
• Take time to give gratitude for the good in your life right now (kiss your spouse and hug your kids!)
• Find a way to offer support to those who have survived the disaster (make a donation, volunteer, even say a prayer)
• Surround yourself with people you love and trust and who will allow you to express your feelings
• Recognize that your visceral response to a global disaster may be a sign of unresolved grief from events that personally affected you in the past. If this is the case, give yourself permission to do the work of healing now ~ it’s never too late and you are worth it!