Resilience
“an ability to recover from or adjust easily to misfortune or change.”
— Merriam-Webster Dictionary
A crisis such as the COVID-19 pandemic challenges us to continually keep tabs on our well-being. Working on our emotional, mental, physical and spiritual balance creates space to stay healthy so we are available to lead others both in the short-term and the long-term.
You may want to ask yourself these questions everyday to keep your resilience strong during this time.
Daily Quarantine Questions
- What am I grateful for today?
- Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?
- What expectations of “normal” am I letting go of today?
- How am I getting outside today?
- How am I moving my body today?
- What beauty am I creating, cultivating, or inviting in today?
Often in times of crisis, the habits and practices that support our well-being go out the window. Here are some reminders of things that may be helpful during this time.
DO’s
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Connect with others
- Take the initiative to make contact (digitally).
- Make eye contact! Use FaceTime, Zoom, or other video conferencing, make sure you can see and hear the other.
- Collaborate remotely.
- Support, encourage and challenge each other.
- Express your needs.
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Create space for and learn from emotions
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- Take the time to feel your own emotions.
- Be open to the emotions of the other.
- Be aware of your breathing.
- Shift from simply reacting to thoughtful answers.
- Think about what is being lost.
- Accept difficult feelings of shame, anger, or fear.
- Explore your emotions to understand what they are telling you.
- Don’t forget humor.
- Be okay with showing up not as your best self, but as your best self *right now*.
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Focus on the positive things
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- Think about what went well today.
- Allow yourself to enjoy whatever is here.
- Stop and reflect on what you are learning.
- Look for silver linings.
- Celebrate your successes, big or small.
- Accept what is. Instead of judging a situation as bad, accept that this is what is in this moment. Then what can you do about it, if anything?
- Do things you enjoy.
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Maintain direction
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- Live your calling! Ask Who am I? and What do I bring about?
- Define how and where you can be meaningful.
- Do what you need to do.
- Ask yourself, “Is this the most important thing for me to work on right now?”
- Take responsibility.
- Structure your day and tasks.
- Create boundaries on your work time – decide when you’ll start and stop working.
- Honor your natural rhythm if possible. Give yourself permission to start the day later (or earlier) and work in the evening if you’re a night person (or the early morning if you’re a morning person).
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Take care of your body
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- Listen to your body. Take its signals seriously.
- Eat and drink healthily.
- Get enough exercise, a little more than usual.
- Get enough rest and sleep.
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Stay inspired
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- Proactively connect with your support system.
- Do the things that give you energy and make you feel the most alive.
- Welcome new sources of inspiration. (See list of Apps for meditation/mindfulness below).
- Focus on the things that bring you joy.
- Proactively express your gratitude.
DON’Ts
- Don’t withdraw into yourself.
- Don’t assume that the other sees or knows what you need.
- Don’t forget to pay enough attention to your family members.
- Don’t be distracted by continually checking the news and social media.
- Don’t underplay uncomfortable emotions – yours or other’s – with ‘it will all be fine.’
- Don’t think that you are only meaningful if you do a lot or give yourself away for nothing.
- Don’t stop being curious and explore new opportunities.
- Don’t be seduced into escapism such as alcohol, gaming, binge watching.
Apps for Meditation/Mindfulness
Insight Timer
Breethe
Calm
iChill
Headspace
Mindfulness
MindBliss
Meditation Made Simple
Buddhify
Stop, Breathe, and Think
Sending you peace, well-being, resilience, calm, and strength.
To learn more about resilience, well-being, and personal leadership schedule a consultation with Laura.