We’re one-quarter of the way through 2020, and it’s already been an interesting year. The world has been shaken by wildfires in Australia, the rapid spread of COVID-19, and sent the economy into a tailspin. With many of us working from home and adjusting to a “new normal,” I want to reassure you that you can get through this! If you’re anything like me, you thrive on routine, so this “new normal” has you shaken up. This being said, we are humans! We are resilient, we are capable of navigating change, we are strong, and we are in this together. Don’t you feel like the world is more connected than ever? So when life decides to throw us a new normal, what do we do? We learn to navigate this change with positivity, hopefulness, and grace.
Yes, it is absolutely challenging to look at the situation at hand as a glass-half-full moment when people are losing their jobs, loved ones, and fighting for their lives. It’s heartbreaking and it’s hard to find the motivation to focus on the positive. As human beings, we are wired to focus on the threat; it’s a survival mechanism. Yet, I’m here to tell you that the same energy we put into fear, we can easily redirect it to focus our attention on maintaining a positive mindset which better supports our lived experience. We have the capability to choose to be positive. On a cellular level, our emotions affect our bodies. When we respond to negative feelings, we can feel an adverse reaction in our physical bodies. Conversely, when we lean into positivity, we experience enhanced productivity, joy and well-being which is why now more than ever, embracing positivity is indispensable. While it is healthy to embrace our feelings of fear, sadness, disappointment. It’s also important that we try to remain calm and cultivate a positivity practice. For today, tomorrow and the future, let’s learn to cultivate positivity.
- An Attitude Of Gratitude
- Research conducted by Davis at the University of California found that when we start to focus on what’s “right,” it reduces the stress hormone, our body makes called cortisol by 23%. Significantly improving peoples mood, energy, and lessening anxiety. So, how do we implement an attitude of gratitude into our daily life? Easy! By taking a couple of minutes out of your day to stop and focus on the positive. One of my favorite daily practices in the morning is to name five things I’m grateful for. It helps to start your day on a positive note!
- Meditate
- Meditation is not only great for your mind but has a bonus benefit of being great on your body as well. It helps keep your mind calm while helping you focus and bringing you clarity. One of the great things about meditation is that it helps us focus our attention on the present moment without holding any judgment. It helps us make peace with our past and let go of any worry of the future. Because what good it is to worry about something that we have no control over.
- Self-Care
- Set aside some time just for YOU! Do something that makes you happy, whether it’s a bath, revisiting a hobby, or even learning something new. Whether it’s juggling our family, career, finances, and health- life is hectic. With everything going on, we tend to forget about ourselves and our joy. Remember the law of attractions says like attracts like. Want more pleasure and joy? Make time for it! The more you make this a habit, the more you’ll start to find yourself looking forward to this time you’ve scheduled for yourself.
I certainly know that this situation is unpredictable and comes with a new set of challenges. I want you to know we are all in this together. We’re all navigating this new normal together, and when we stay positive and calm throughout this process, we remain in our power!