How are you feeling? It’s a genuine question because you’ve probably noticed it’s actually getting even weirder out there. I didn’t think it was possible, and yet here we are.
At the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak, I spoke about the importance of finding your language whilst we were hearing new phrases like “sunset clauses”, “social distancing” and “herd immunity”. As we find our way into Lockdown Two, we are now hearing about a “circuit breaker”, the idea of “severing connections” with loved ones. It’s no surprise if we’re all feeling upside down and back to front at the thought of what that might mean.
It can send our thinking into what I call “going down the plughole”, where we spiral with “what ifs” and “if onlys” all whilst trying to navigate work, home, health and…well, life.
And honestly, the noise in our heads when everything feels out of control can be loud; even hurt.
We beat ourselves up.
We take on too much.
Or we withdraw.
Whichever way you’re finding your way through all this it’s ok if you’re not feeling ok at the moment. No one really knows what’s going to happen (or even what’s going on right now) so it’s perfectly acceptable if you’re tired and feeling like you’re behind the curve.
Sometimes it can help to disrupt our thinking long enough that we give ourselves permission to breathe. Here’s something that might help:
This week, maybe set the intention of Breaking the Circuit, the one in your mind that gets caught up in thought. If you know your mind tends to spiral with uncertainty, make a plan of what you can do to interrupt the flow of thoughts when you’re feeling anxious. You could take a break from social media and limit watching the news, or even ask a friend or loved one to give you a daily update containing only what you need to know.
Make space each day for some fresh air, and put the basics first like getting enough water and eating a decent meal each day. If you find your mind is swirling with thoughts about what might be, focus on what helps you when managing anxiety. (Mindfulness can also help). Start to think about when you feel connected and what you need to make that happen. And even though we are being discouraged from seeing loved ones whenever we want right now, it’s ok to find ways to stay connected that can help lift you if you’re down.
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Copyright Delphi Ellis 2020
Helping You Sparkle™ 