Equal parts emotive and angelic, Yore’s voice is one of those rare wonders that can make the hairs on your arms stand to attention. Quietly arriving on the scene this year with his hypnotic single “Knew Better,” the LA-based artist is bringing a conceptual approach to modern soul music, blending electronic and classical influences with meticulously layered vocals.

It has been a long time coming – having previously held down a career in music under a different moniker, an intense period of meditation and solitude led to a reinvention as Yore. There’s a certain yearning to his compositions, something Yore describes as “the nostalgia of what could have been” – combined with his shadowy, cinematic visuals it makes for an intense experience. - HUNGER Magazine, 2018
If you’re reading this in April 2020, you’re likely in the middle of a severe global crisis. You’ve done all you can to be responsible with stay-at-home orders and sooth yourself with lockdown-themed memes. But the patience and positivity are wearing thin. Netflix doesn’t hit like it used to. The comfort of home-cooking has plateaued. And the local Zoom parties have lost their luster.

When insecurities abound, like:

How safe is safe enough?

How long will it last?

Who can I trust?

What about my money?

What about my family?

What about my future?

…what can you do?

The journey starts within. Here are five feelings to honor while working through a global crisis:

1. Grief
   
   It’s important to acknowledge the emotional processing that needs to happen in times like these. Some of us have lost our loved ones and our jobs. All of us have lost our normalcy and our sense of security. It takes time to get through the stages of grief and we owe it to ourselves to experience each one in our own unique way. Anger, anxiety, denial, and depression will all surface in unexpected waves. Accept them as they come and take care before unconsciously moving on to the next.
   
   
2. Grace
   
   In acknowledgement of our grieving, we get to take a step towards forgiveness. Let grace replace the guilt you feel from not completing a typical routine, not creating your next masterpiece, or not contributing enough to the world around you. After all, sheltering-in-place is a condition of emergency, not a creative retreat. The psychological effects are real. Your number one job now is self-preservation, whatever that looks like for you. When the self-care tips fall flat, try something else until you feel good again. New, healthier patterns will emerge when you allow the space.
   
   
3. Grounding
   
   A situation like this with all of its uncertainty is jarring. It will take some time to find your footing, especially when you’ve lost the purpose that comes from your usual flow. Do what you can now to nourish your physical being. Rest. Eat well. Sleep well. Go for socially distanced nature walks whenever possible and safe.
   
   Turning your head up to the sky and letting the sun hit you in the eyelids is essential.
   
   I’ve learned that by pairing down (by force or by choice), I get to realign with what’s important to me. I’m getting reacquainted with the words, the art, the music, and the hobbies that truly resonate. I’m talking to friends and family. We’re naming and reframing our fears together. It’s a beautiful thing.
   
   
4. Gratitude
   
   I’ve dedicated my downtime as an ode to all the things I took for granted. Things like physical health and the freedom to move about. Things like going to a store, knowing they’d have what I needed. Things like visiting my grandmother in assisted living. Hugging my mom. Dinner with friends. Shaking hands. I’m grateful to have had these experiences before and hopeful for the day they return.
   
   There’s a more existential side to this, too. Times like these create an awakening that’s hard to miss and I choose to be grateful for all the lessons this will bring, regardless of how painful it can be. I’m thankful for the chance to investigate who I am in this unprecedented moment and build a better point of view for the future.
   
   
5. Generosity
   
   With so much of life’s superficialities falling back, I’m finding more space to give in unconventional ways. I can support my favorite artists’ livestream shows and Patreon memberships. I can donate to fundraisers that support people disproportionately affected by the lockdown. I can devote extra time, resources, and kindness to neighbors, front-line essential workers, and other populations at risk.
   
   Finally, I can give to my future self, by making more conscious decisions about my money and my health while the long-term impact is top of mind.

I don’t have all the answers. No one does. Still, by honoring my feelings in this critical moment, I’ve found the will to keep going. You can, too.

stillmind.co
instagram.com/stillmindco
instagram.com/thisisyore

Posted 04.13.2020