I Know How to Stay Home and clean with Bleach …
What else do I know? I know that managing our fear helps us to stay healthy, improves our performance and I know that when we face a situation out of our control, we need to ‘pause’ …
I don’t know anyone who isn’t feeling the effects of this pandemic. It blossomed quickly into a new household name. We see every day how it’s touching our humanity, and all our media channels. Probably most of everything on the television and internet breeds some level of fear and panic. Please limit your intake, take breaks from it, it’s necessary.
As we watch the news, the stories, numbers and information are ever changing. We listen to politicians blame each other or someone else for current issues. Some people are judging others for not staying home; some people don’t believe we have a problem. I am not an expert or medical professional, but I can say this without hesitation: We have a problem, and social distancing is necessary, non judgement is helpful, but optional, and taking time to pause is essential.
Of course along with this comes other unique variables, also shaky. All systems feel wonky. Some of you are working from home for the first time and your company is still transitioning. Others are in jobs where there is NO work, and you may or may not be getting paid. The government websites and phone lines are overloaded, causing some of you to feel stress. Please don’t allow money worries to overwhelm you, it will not change anything. Another reason to put down your laptop, walk outside, try a new recipe, read a book. Pause.
So where’s the good news? Here’s my positive take: I’m sure you’re noticing that mother nature is breathing better, people are caring for each other more than usual, looking out for the vulnerable and weak who will have to fight harder if they are exposed. We are witnessing breweries making sanitizer, auto makers learning how to make ventilators, people across the country sewing masks for the medical community. A sign of solidarity and collective consciousness.
Some of us are experiencing new foods because we rely on curb side and delivery. Now we are helping small farmers through produce delivery and we creating new dishes every week. I’m on my bike every day, and practicing my ukulele consistently.
What can you do as an individual or as a business? Create through compassion, show understanding to those people who are afraid, even to those you want to judge. There are many ways we can help those who need it while maintaining our distance
And please realize that when we get too caught up in the media, the stories, we become sponges to the information, even when it isn’t accurate. It’s also critical to the well being of many that we consider what an intensely emotional time this is, that not everyone processes information in the same way.
Many people suffer with anxiety, depression and other mental disorders, most of which are common. All of this is intended to say, we can be mindful of what we share on social media, we don’t need to provide news. The news and information is pretty effing easy to locate if someone is looking for it. For some, probably for many, those articles stir them on a deep and possibly scary level.
Practice daily self care, find what works for you. If you don’t meditate, I highly recommend you try it, check your diet and make sure you’re taking in plenty of nutrients, go outside and enjoy all the things in nature, exercise and most of all, take some time to just be. You don’t have to stay in constant productive mode. If you struggle with any of these, email me. I am pretty skilled now at finding ways to rise above the anxiety and fear.
Lastly, trust and know that we are going to be okay, that opportunity and a sense of renewal will come out of all that feels so weird and messy today. The old normal needed to shift; we will come out of this better humans.
Pause.
