As we all know, we are living in unprecedented times. The United States of America and people around the world are facing a crisis of global proportions. Our lives have been totally disrupted and we have all had to adjust to a new normal. One thing I know for sure is that unprecedented times demand unprecedented courage. Crisis is when we see the resiliency of the human spirit and the compassion of humanity on full display. While this is an unsettling time in the world, I also believe that this is also a great opportunity for growth, development, action, and transformation. I want to share a few insights with you that I am learning as we navigate this time of crisis and pressure in the world. Furthermore, I want you to be encouraged, know that this too shall pass, and that we will get through this stronger and better than before. We are all in this together and the tide will turn!
- Crisis does not discriminate. As someone that has trained and developed leaders around the world, crisis management and crisis leadership is something that I have covered in great detail. I have had the pleasure of helping walk leaders through times of crisis and I have gained so much insight from these experiences. One thing that is constant about crisis is that it does not discriminate. As people around the world are dealing with the impact of COVID-19, the millionaire and the middle-class have been equalized. What do I mean by this? It means that we are all put on the same level at this time. Money, influence, connections, and popularity have little relevance in crisis. In fact, nobody cares what kind of car you drive or how big your home is. We have all been mandated to stay inside and nobody is exempt regardless of their socioeconomic status. Crisis has a way of leveling the playing field and causing us all to realize that we are fighting an invisible enemy. While wealth and influence may provide more luxuries, it does not provide an exemption from the threat of this deadly virus and its consequences. I have loved seeing the racial, economic and political walls come down and seeing us unite as the human race to make a difference during this difficult time.
- Crisis opens the heart space. If you have ever followed my work and read my books, you have heard me talk about the heart space before. The heart is the center of our lives. However, we live in a fast-paced, busy, distracted world that has turned off the heart and instead listens to the head. While there is nothing wrong with listening to your head, every human being hits moments where we must rely on the heart to make decisions and to navigate unchartered territories. This is one of those moments where human logic and human reasoning does not provide solutions or solace. On the other hand, opening up the heart space brings peace and partnerships in a time of pressure and uncertainty in the world. I see neighbors reaching out to help neighbors. I see communities having conversations that they have never had before. I see the global village working together to ensure that everyone has what they need. For the first time in a long time, nobody is too busy and no person is invisible. The heart spaces of people around the world have opened up and I see people around the world daring to be demonstrations of love. While crisis can bring anxiety and uncertainty, love is more powerful than fear and love unites humanity in moments of crisis.
- Crisis unleashes an extraordinary spirit of generosity. At a time where many are facing unemployment, immense pressure and unthinkable challenges, I see the spirit of generosity on full display around the world. It is something about times of crisis that unleashes the power of gratitude in our lives. In reality, crisis forces us to realize that we can complain about the problem or we can appreciate the gift of life and cherish every moment. Personally, I have found myself giving to causes and things that I consider important to me. In addition, I have been making it a habit to support local businesses in my community every single week. I know that restaurants, coffee shops, and other local businesses are experiencing a rough time. While it would be easy to just go in the house and slam the door, my heart really goes out to local business owners and their employees. So I have taken advantage of every opportunity that I can to support businesses in my community now more than ever. In addition, I know that charities are going through a very turbulent time. While this is a time that many have had to cut back in their giving, I have actually increased my giving to causes and organizations that are important to me. I realize that no gift is too small and that my generosity will make a difference in ways that I could never imagine. Generosity is contagious and at such a dark time in the world, we need to see contagious giving on display.
- Crisis is an opportunity to hit the reset button on our lives. Over the last few weeks, I have been journaling and writing a lot. I am known around the world as a revolutionary thinker and respected thought leader. People around the world love my work because they love my philosophies and ideas. Clearly, this is a moment of anxiety, uncertainty, and fear for many people around the world. However, I do not see crisis from that perspective. Crisis is an opportunity for creativity, innovation, possibilities and the progress of humanity. So many people are complaining about being stuck at home. The reality is that you are safe at home. This is a remarkable time to unleash your creativity, develop new ideas and engineer new technologies and innovations. The greatest discoveries and advancements come out of moments of crisis and uncertainty. This global pandemic has forced all of us to hit the reset button on our lives. We have been so busy with so many different things. In fact, many of us were so busy that we lost sight of what was really important in our lives. This pandemic has caused many of us to realize that we were really distracted with a lot of things that did not really matter. Crisis is important because it causes us to stop looking without and to instead go within. Our perspectives have changed and our priorities have become clear. Take advantage of this reset and get your life back in rhythm. Simplicity has a way of synchronizing and syncopating our lives to the right rhythm.