I’ve always believed “what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger” but that philosophy has really been tested over the last few years in the pandemic. Almost 15 million people have died, all survivors around the world felt loss, and children have felt more mental health distress than in memorable history. That doesn’t seem like strength . And now, a war continues in Ukraine, a recession has taken hold, and the depletion of the pandemic is still with us, sometimes increasingly so.
It’s really bananas.
Are you waiting for me to turn this into good news? Me too. I can’t promise that the bad times will go away. I can promise that you can take steps to manage your mindset so that you are better able to deal with what comes. Here’s an article from the NYT with actions you can take to invite ourselves back again.
They include:
- Assessing yourself (you know I love a good semi-annual Whole Life Model Assessment, feel free to email me and I can sent you one)
- Savor and celebrate small things
- Do five good deeds
- Look for communities and connection (who wants to volunteer for the PTA? Soup kitchen? Water the neighbors plants?)
- Find purpose in everyday routines
- Try something new
It’s been a tough run. So now is a time for compassion, especially self-compassion, and cutting yourself some slack. And then (and only then) take a look at this list (and read the full NYT article). Pick one item to try this week. When it goes well (and it will), try another.
And if it isn’t a tough time for you, if you’re flourishing, find five people beside you who need support. They need it more than you may realize. Give the support before it’s asked of you.
Allison
