The title of this blog is a little bit of a misnomer. We are far from emerging from the crises we find ourselves in at this time. Covid-19 has not gone away; we’ve just slowed the spread enough (for now) to help keep our medical facilities from being overrun. Racism and racial profiling are hitting hard, which is wildly understating our current reality; just turn on any media outlet, including social. Misogyny is on full display; just listen to our President speak about the leadership of our state.
So are we actually emerging from crisis? No. But we are expected to get back out there, and this post intends to offer some thoughts for your consideration as we all try to figure out how to do that.
One of our clients shared that her office has a mix of perspectives. There are some people who have been chomping at the bit to get back to the office, for many reasons. Some who are neutral and seem fine either way. And some who are living with a lot of fear about coming back and want to continue working from home for as long as possible.
I’m willing to bet this mix of emotions is present pretty widely in the population, and even all happening to one person, depending on the day. I know that’s the case for me. Like everything else about this quarantine and pandemic, I continue to feel like I’m on a roller coaster with my emotions much of the time. I know I’m not alone.
Here are five things I have been practicing that are helping me navigate these uncertain times:
- Check my mentality.
Am I living in a mentality of fear and scarcity? Or choosing one of hope and abundance? Stepping back to examine the very lens through which you are seeing the world can reveal a powerful way to course correct yourself right out of the gate.
- Identify what I can control.
There are really only two things—my thoughts and my actions. Am I trying to control the actions or words of other people? Am I screaming into the wind, or truly finding ways to exercise control over what I do and say and think?
- Be true to myself.
Are my thoughts and actions in line with my values and beliefs? Am I walking my own talk? Where are the gaps between what I believe to be of critical importance for my own safety and well-being, and how I am behaving?
- Practice kindness and connection.
In this time of isolation, we’ve relied heavily on technology to keep us connected to loved ones and work. I’ve kept in touch better with friends during this quarantine than I ever did before it happened, I’m somewhat embarrassed to say. How can I continue that practice as some version of “normal” life resumes? When I’m having a rough day, what will I say to myself? Will I practice kindness and reach out for support? Or will I mentally berate myself and stuff my feelings away?
- Get moving.
Literally. Newton’s first law of motion from physics class—a body at rest wants to stay at rest, and a body in motion wants to stay in motion. Get up. Go outside. Whatever your physical limitations allow, push them. Get your adrenaline going. Get that surge of endorphins going. It reminds me of how strong I am when I’m moving, and that always helps me feel better about just about everything.
None of this will be easy. Even if it feels like it will be easy for you, it won’t be easy for others you’ll likely come into contact with. Be careful with your words. Practice kindness and listening, even when (ESPECIALLY when) you don’t understand why the other person feels or is acting the way they are. Be patient. And above all else, remember that we are all in this world together. We need one another to survive, and we are stronger together. Stay safe out there.
