A Mindful Path Through Crisis- Part 2

15 Apr A Mindful Path Through Crisis- Part 2

This blog is a continuation of my previous blog about mindful path through the crisis.

So how do we be able to emotionally cope with this crisis? Whether you are self-isolating or possibly dealing with lockdown, there are always ways in which you can continue supporting your emotional wellbeing through this difficult phase. See below some helpful tips:

Humour: Humor always lightens us up. Whether you are watching a comedy, a funny movie, a humorous conversation with a friend or a silly meme, it does help us less catastrophize and feel more uplifted in those moments. It also helps minimize anger to otherwise frustrating stories or situations.

Mindfulness: Take one day at a time and breathe into the present! There is nothing more powerful like being in the HERE & NOW and embracing your present moment as your only reality. While we are in this ordeal together, its about calming your mind to focus on wellness and self care, and all those values of resilience, generosity and gratitude on a daily basis. Being mindful that we are all in a common human experience right now and our pain is shared across the planet.

Seize the day in the best way you can. It makes this journey ahead less painful and daunting. Cultivate mindfulness by watching that flower grow in your garden, soak in to the warmth of the sun through the window, cook your favourite meal, sing along to every word of your play list songs, tune in to the chirp of the birds and more deeply attune to life and nature around you.

Creative expressions like art, poetry, writing: A great opportunity now is to do the project you always wanted to, that painting that never got made or a story that was never read or written, practicing the piece of music you loved playing or danced your heart to. Creative arts and colors enrich our lives and offer great expressions to our current life experiences and emotions. Many famous authors, singers, artists and musicians have evolved in tough times in history.

Being in nature- more green time over screen time: Breathe some fresh air whenever you can, watch nature more closely, in the woods, by the bay or from your home quietly. We are surrounded by nature and connecting with life around us will always make us feel more alive, less alone and will allow us to keep the physical social distance we need now for our current safety.

Boundaries are essential as to how much time we spend watching news or being on our laptops or phones. Too much screen time and information overload will not help as adjust well to this situation and so we need to continue working on those boundaries on a daily basis.

Deepening relationships: Relooking at what makes a relationship meaningful and more connected to you? Reconnecting with warmth and gentleness in relationships through words, conversations and behaviors. Exchanging supportive messages from loved ones, phone calls or if you are with your family, investing more time at family dinners or playing board games together.

Growing your inner spiritual self– A great time is to dig deep within through a meditation practice, listening or reading about spiritual development or revisiting your spiritual practices like praying. When we lead busy lives, we miss out on soulful times and this long extended shutdown from work and routines when the world is pushed to slow down can be a great opportunity to really slow down, pause and practice stillness. Experience the joy of tranquility and solitude, building your emotional grounding like the deep entrenched roots of a Oak tree.

Sleep well and Eat well: sleeping well is shown to drop anxiety by 30%. Ensuring good sleep hygiene practices and eating nutritious food rich in fruits and vegetables will ensure our immunity is strong and help keep our moods more stable.

Create a new habit: It takes 3-4 weeks to create a new habit and our brain to create a new habit and store a memory. A great time think about small habits like eating a fruit, a habit of organizing your desk or your room, a habit of journaling at the end of the day or doing a meditation practice while washing your hands.

New Habit Washing hands meditation:

Everytime you wash your hands, take slow breaths, feel the coolness of the water and smell the fragrance of the soap. As you wash away the soap from your hands, Say in your mind;

“In this moment, I am gently letting go of my worries, concerns, unpleasant feelings, thoughts that bother me right now, I am surrendering, letting go of my past, unresolved issues, mistakes and freeing myself now of burden caused by any of these feelings or thoughts”.

When you finish your 20 second handwash, head to dry your hands and remind yourself that “I am OK now, everything around me will be work out”.

Take a deep breath before you move on to doing other things for the day.

In part 3 of this series, I will share ideas of maintaining our social connections in the midst of this current crisis.