Tips for finding some comfort and control in your world right now...
"If the foundation is solid, when the storm hits, the building may sway ...but it will not fall"
What is your "foundation" made of? Is it made of sand or cement? It matters. When you have a solid foundation, you are able to weather storms and stay standing. When you don't? That's when the inevitable storms we are faced with may come along and knock you over.
Resilient people tend to have solid foundations. One of the traits of a resilient person is their mindset. It tends to be positive and it matters. Especially during the "storms".
Here are some suggestions for building your resilience during these uncertain times.
Own the first five to ten (more if possible) minutes of your day:
Start with 4 - 6 deep purposeful breaths while you are in bed and perhaps think of one thing you are grateful for, even if it is the pillow you slept on. Little things.
Resist the urge to reach for your phone for as long as possible knowing that whatever is there will still be there in a half hour.
Create a routine:
Routines aren't just for babies and toddlers. Whether you are home alone or with a spouse and children, more and more people are working from home right now and based on the phone calls and emails I have been getting, it may be useful to define a "temporary" routine. Why is a routine important? Think about a baby or toddler. One of the most common routines for a small child is the bedtime routine: a bath, maybe some warm milk and a story. This routine signals that bedtime is coming and it is comforting to know what is happening. Adults are no different. Routines bring comfort or maybe more accurately, a sense of control. Some tips: be flexible, especially if you have kids (no matter what their age may be!!) at home. They are adapting too and may require your attention at times when you may not want to be distracted. Remember, this is a "temporary" situation and perhaps look at these distractions as opportunities. Set boundaries between "work time" and
"home time", it is very easy to get caught up in work when you are not physically leaving a work space and commuting. Build in proper breaks and move!
You have choices. (remember those?):
One thing we have a choice over, always, is our attitude, our mindset. A positive mindset - this is one of the traits of a resilient person. Resilience. The ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change. The
ability to step back and see the bigger picture and pivot in situations.
How can you shift your mindset to build your resilience? A “bite sized” approach seems to work. One thought or question at a time to provoke how you may feel or think about something. Questioning what you believe to be true, because our “beliefs” even the good ones, can limit what we allow in. Just take that in for a second. Taking a moment to ask, is this really true? Is there another way I could look at this? Over time, I have witnessed transformational change in attitudes and outlooks by adopting this approach. It’s possible. Promise.
And finally, think about the "breadcrumb trail" that you are leaving right now:
When we eventually arrive at our new "normal" and you take a look back, how do you hope that others will describe how you showed up during this time? For me? I am hoping that my behaviour will be described as: kind, level-headed and compassionate. How about you? Take a moment to reflect.
Stay well.
