Personal Leadership and Resilience

By Laura Hansen, PCC.

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

  1. What am I grateful for today?
  2. Who am I checking in on or connecting with today?
  3. What expectations of “normal” am I letting go of today?
  4. How am I getting outside today?
  5. How am I moving my body today?
  6. 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

  1. 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.
  1. Create space for and learn from emotions

    • 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*.
  1. Focus on the positive things

    • 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. 
  1. Maintain direction

    • 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).  
  1. Take care of your body

    • 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.
  1. Stay inspired  

    • 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.