5 Things That Helped Me Keep My Vibration High During the Hardest Year of My Life
- Linda Sevilla
- Oct 4
- 3 min read
This past year has been the hardest of my life.
There were moments when everything seemed to fall apart at once — estrangement from family, unexpected financial setbacks, and plans for our move to Mexico that kept unraveling no matter how carefully we tried to piece them together. I felt uncertainty in every direction.
But underneath all of it, I kept coming back to what I know: we are energy beings.How we think, what we feel, the environments we’re in — all of it affects our vibration.
When the world around us feels messy, the most important thing we can do is tend to our own energy first.
The five practices below are the very things that kept me balanced and grounded during my hardest year. These aren’t just ideas I teach — they’re tools I lived. And I hope they help you too.
1. Working on My Belief System
As a hypnotherapist, I’ve seen firsthand how powerful our thoughts are. What we tell ourselves over and over again gets deposited into the subconscious mind and becomes a belief — and those beliefs quietly shape how we feel, act, and attract.
So every day, I spent time working on my inner dialogue. I used meditation to drop into deeper brainwave states, when I knew my subconscious was listening, and offered myself positive, believable suggestions.
When money was tight, I’d repeat to myself:“This is an abundant universe. I’m grateful for what I already have. Opportunities and resources are on their way.”
By telling myself what I knew to be true in my heart, my fears softened. I felt more supported and able to move forward with trust.
2. Daily Meditation
Meditation became my anchor. It’s one of the fastest ways to calm the nervous system and raise your vibration.
Even a few minutes a day shifts your brain from high-beta stress into calmer alpha and theta states. In those states, stress hormones decrease, emotional balance improves, and your body becomes more receptive to healing and insight.
When I meditate daily, I cope better, think more clearly, and feel steadier.
I found Dr. Joe Dispenza’s meditations especially powerful — they focus on heart coherence, gratitude, and remembering that you are a powerful creator.
And as a bonus, I fell in love with the music of an artist who calls herself a “chantress.” She channels her music using healing frequencies designed for relaxation and restoration. It’s dreamy and deeply soothing.
3. Having a Belief System to Lean On
When life feels chaotic, having a framework that helps you make sense of what’s happening can be grounding.
For some people, that’s astrology — seeing how planetary movements mirror life’s themes. For others, it’s viewing Earth as a kind of school where every challenge is a lesson, or trusting in karma and timing.
The belief itself isn’t the point — it’s the perspective it offers. For me, it helped to remember that there’s a bigger picture. My struggles weren’t random; they were invitations to grow. Seeing life that way took me out of panic and into acceptance.
4. Using Scent Intentionally
Scent is directly connected to the limbic system — the part of the brain tied to memory and emotion — which makes it one of the most immediate ways to shift your state.
Certain scents can signal the body that it’s safe to relax or ready to re-energize.
Lavender calms the nervous system and promotes rest.
Citrus oils like lemon or orange uplift the mood.
Peppermint increases alertness and focus.
Even simple rituals, like diffusing oils, boiling cinnamon sticks on the stove, or wearing a favorite grounding fragrance, can help reset your energy. Personally, I love soaking in a vanilla or lavender bath, or wearing patchouli when I need to feel centered.
5. Visualization
What we focus on, we attract — and visualization helps align your inner state with the outer reality you want to create.
This can be challenging when real life looks nothing like the life you’re trying to manifest. But that’s exactly when it matters most.
I made it a daily habit to imagine, in full sensory detail, the reality I was calling in. I would picture walking barefoot on warm sand, smelling the ocean air, and hearing Spanish spoken all around me — feeling the joy and gratitude of already living my “new” life.
Visualization doesn’t just lift your vibration; it also trains your brain to recognize the people, ideas, and opportunities that move you closer to your goals.
These five practices aren’t abstract concepts — they’re what helped me stay balanced, resourced, and hopeful in my hardest year.
If you’re feeling stretched thin or overwhelmed, try one or two of them. They’re simple, they’re free, and they can change everything about how you experience your day.