I don’t know about you, but my emotions feel like a rickety roller coaster ride right now. I began practicing social distancing March 12th, after reading a Facebook post which I interpreted to mean that it was important to take action--immediately.

I’ve noticed my internal system or parts have been highly activated. There were two parts of me that were in huge conflict after I was told to attend a mandatory face to face meeting which could have taken place virtually. One part was screaming at me to “stay home” to protect myself and to prevent the healthcare system from being overwhelmed. The other part said “Don’t rock the boat. You might lose your property. Just go anyway.” I found myself driving to the meeting, only to turn around after I’d gone a few miles. Clients have told me they are lashing out at their loved ones. Or feeling unmotivated to do anything. Or trapped in fear and thinking, “What’s the point?”

Do any of these sound familiar? I share these stories because I want you to know that right now “your stuff” is likely to be activated. I saw this happen many years ago after a tornado destroyed much of a town where I was teaching. People who had experienced trauma years ago and had kept it neatly tucked away found it resurfacing.

So, if you’re finding yourself over-reacting to things or feeling paralyzed by fear, don’t fret. The gift of this horrible virus is that we now have an opportunity to clear out some of our old baggage. And even though we thought we had it buried for good, it was still there, underneath the surface affecting us in ways we may not even realize.

It takes quite a bit of energy to keep fear and trauma suppressed. When you release it, you free up energy that can be used to attract more of what you want in life. And you can also focus on the good things that are happening around you, increase your sense of compassion, and raise your own vibration and that of the people around you.

One of the gifts of the process of working through this pandemic is that it can help us develop resilience skills. This is important, because these are skills we can use throughout life. The hard truth is that a rich and meaningful life is going to involve times that will be difficult. Why not build skills to help you weather the storms?

Here are 6 activities you can try to help you strengthen your resilience.

1. Journal about challenging experiences you’ve been through & who and what helped you survive.

2. Make a list of all the things you can do to distract & soothe yourself in healthy ways.

3. Stop and shift thoughts that aren’t helpful and lead to unwanted emotions. Create a replacement thought that helps you feel the way you would like to feel.

4. Make a list of your top 5 values and find ways to embody at least one of them daily.

5. Practice acceptance that things are going to be challenging for a while, and find ways to motivate yourself to engage in what you value despite the challenges.

6. Make a list of your strengths and find a way to use at least one of them each day.

I hope you enjoy trying some of these activities. And if you need help or want to take them deeper, sign up for some of my specially priced on-line and virtual services geared to help you cope with the physical, spiritual, and emotional effects of the pandemic.

Picturing you in Radiant Health!

Tamara

Bouncing Back: How to Survive in the Midst of Fear & Turmoil