Who Do I Want to be During COVID-19?
As shared by @profgalloway on social
To say that we’re living in a “new normal” or “unprecedented times” during the COVID-19 Pandemic is a major understatement, and there’s lots written about it already, so I won’t dwell on it. Instead, when I saw Prof. Scott Galloway post the above chart on LinkedIn and Twitter, I felt compelled to ponder: Who Do I Want to be During COVID-19?
FEAR ZONE
You might know I am a glass-half-full type of person. But these times put even the biggest optimists to the test. The news cycle is overtaken by COVID-19-related information, with scary numbers, stories of human suffering, and tales of Federal government incompetence, alongside promising signs of what happens when we #StayAtHome, stories of human kindness, and updates from heroes like Dr. Fauci, Dr. Scott Gotlieb, and Andy Slavitt. It’s not easy to stay leveled with these ups and downs where news (true or fake) spread so fast.
I have mostly being upbeat, smiled, and been there for my loved ones. But every week or two, I have also hit tough spots, where I had to retreat and reset… like the day a friend of mine speaking in a webinar broke down mid-sentence; or over the weekend, when I learned about the passing of a friend (though not from COVID-19, but at the end of her fight with stage-IV breast cancer).
If you find yourself in the FEAR ZONE: it’s OK… we are human, first off; and second, none of us have ever lived through times like these. Be compassionate to yourself, so you can make inroads into the Learning Zone, and take the time you need to regroup yourself. If you need help to reset, I recommend tools like myStrength. Their COVID-19 and Mental Wellness resources are being available free through the end of June.
LEARNING ZONE
It is ironic that it would take something as dramatic as a pandemic for many of us to connect more deeply with with ourselves and others. Here are some things we’ve been doing more of (besides washing our hands) lately:
Eating less: haven’t lost a TON of weight, but I am on track to being at my healthiest weight in a while.
Cooking AND eating together: I love that we’ve reconnected with this this a part of who we are as a family, and I have learned to cook more recipes in the process.
Recognizing triggers: I am connecting with my inner self more, trying to identify triggers of fear and doing my best to not let them take over.
Learning more: I have made a point to spend no less than an hour per week learning new skills, or polishing up on skills I want to master. Among other platforms, LinkedIn Learning and Udemy have both released free resources.
GROWTH ZONE
It takes intention to step outside of ourselves in times like these, but it’s essential to our mental and emotional health, as our brains release oxytocin, serotonin and dopamine when we do something for/with others.
Here are some things we’re doing on this front:
Give time: I’ve made a point of talking each day to no less than one friend or family member I haven’t talked to in a while. Also, there are lot of volunteer opportunities you can engage in from home.
Give money: there’s SO MUCH need out there, that it shouldn’t be hard for you to find a cause that you care for, where you can make a difference, but in case you need inspiration, here are a few ideas:
Meals Of Gratitude: they are providing meals to frontline workers during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Local Food Banks: one of the groups in most need for our support are Food Banks all over the US.
Diabetes: donate to Tidepool.org (my new employer starting April 20) or donate to American Diabetes Association.
Support political candidates (not tax deductible): we need leadership that will do the right thing, but they need our support.
Give his and hugs: this is the least expensive and most rewarding thing you can do… as you go around the house, give others hugs… as you walk around the neighborhood (maintaining a safe physical distance), say HI!
What about you? Who do YOU want to be during COVID-19? Leave your comments below.
