Where do we start with COVID-19?
Simple ways to use the power of your mind to deal with crisis.
Hello friends,
Where do you, as a person, start with dealing with the Coronavirus pandemic? When a situation like the pandemic we have now arises it is easy to experience a myriad of emotions. These emotions are usually not positive and prolonged indulgence in them only leads to a downward spiral of consciousness. Therefore the first thing to start with in a crisis is to get our mind in order.
I have, for years, harped endlessly on learning about the mind and how it works. It is during times like this that our mind can be an asset or a living hell to be in. Unless we can learn to harness our awareness and direct it to where we want it to go in our mind, we are left at the mercy of our environment. And when the environment is in chaos then for most people who have very little understanding or control of their mind, their mind will also be in chaos. Sadly, for most people, their environment dictates their state of mind. As cities around the world enforce a quarantine and many people are encouraged or forced to stay home, we need to look at this situation as an opportunity rather than a challenge. This is not to say that these are not challenging times but if we can shift our perspective we can shift how we approach what is happening.
Get yourself in the right frame of mind. You can't have change and growth if your mind is a mess.
If you are going to be homebound for 2-weeks or more then ask yourself how can you leverage this opportunity to create change and growth in your life.
If that question is too daunting then you can start with a simpler question such as, "What is something that I have been wanting to do that I have not had the time to do?” It could be reading a book or taking an online course to learn a skill or personal development tools.
How about cleaning up the clutter in your home? Now that is something a lot of people have. Find that messy closet, or spice cabinet or room and start cleaning it.
The worst thing you can do to yourself right now is to sit and do absolutely nothing.
Routines are one of the best things that you can create at a time like this. Routines calm the instinctive mind which is the state of mind that experiences fear. When confined to the house for days on end like this, the first thing you want to do is create a routine for yourself. One of the things you can incorporate into your morning routine is the practice of expressing gratitude. Gratitude and appreciation are the key virtues for a better life. They are the spell that is cast to dissolve hatred, hurt and sadness, the medicine which heals subjective states of mind, restoring self-respect, confidence, and security. When we have a sense of gratitude for what we have it changes our perspective on how we view life. As opposed to seeing what we don’t have, we see the abundance of what we do have. This practice dramatically changes our mindset allowing us to view everything from a higher consciousness which will allow us to make better decisions in handling the current situation that we are all faced with. An easy way to start this practice is to write down 3 things that you are grateful for each and every morning. In expressing gratitude be specific. I see so many posts of people complaining about being forced to be in quarantine and being stuck at home. Trust me, these are the least of your problems!
When I take a perspective of gratitude I think to myself how blessed I am that I even have a home. That I have clean running water, electricity, food, a family that loves me, internet and countless other conveniences. I see this enforced quarantine as an opportunity rather than a burden. I get to spend more time with my loved ones. I get to pause and reflect on the direction of my life. The direction of my business. The last thing I want to do is complain. When we are concerned only about me, myself and I we react to the current situation in a negative way. We look at it as a massive inconvenience to our life. We forget that there are countless other souls out there risking their lives in selfless service to save other lives while we sit at home being self-centered, selfish, ungrateful bums! Don’t be this person! The world has enough of them and you don’t need to be one of them. Shift your awareness to the area of the mind of gratitude by doing the daily gratitude practice. Then, from here, ask yourself these questions "How can I make a positive difference? How can I help others? How can I serve?" There are always ways to help if you really want to do so. Here are some simple things you can do to help others:
1. Send a text message or call the people that are close to you and check in on them. If you send a message please use words, be detailed and specific and whatever you do please, please don’t just send an emoji! Yesterday, I put aside 75 minutes and reached out to dozens of people I know around the world to check in on them and share words of support.
2. Check in with your neighbors or the elderly in your neighborhood and see if anyone needs help.
3. Offer moral support or lend an ear to those that may be feeling more fearful about the situation, especially those that could be badly affected by this virus such as the elderly.
4. Volunteer. In offering your help, always share what skills you have. Don’t just say "I would like to help.”
5. Send a thank you card to your local hospital with a loving note thanking all the health care workers. The above are some examples. The main points I am trying to make here are:
Shift your focus from you to others
Ask yourself "how you can serve and make a difference"
When you uplift others, you uplift yourself
Be a positive force during this pandemic. You can make a difference if you want to. Here is a link to a page on the World Health Organization website that shares valuable information on How to Protect Yourself from the Coronavirus. It is really important during this time to get your information from the authorities on the subject.
Stay safe, stay positive, and invest some time in yourself…you’ll be glad you did!
In thoughts,
Brent