If you have been following this blog, or heard me speak at an event, you have likely heard me say that resilience theory can be boiled down to 3 key pillars: Internal, External, and Process.
So – here are a few questions to help you calibrate and navigate the challenge of COVID-19:
- Internal: What are you hearing?
You may have already found that your emotions rise and fall based on what you are listening to. You may have noticed that you feel better when you turn off the news. These are important indicators of the truth related to our “hearing”. Deeper still, what we hear inside, the voice we listen to and the tape that plays / the message we rehearse as “true” needs to be managed well. It may be important to know what changes have happened in Government regulations, advice (safe health practices such as hygiene and distancing) or economic program offerings. It is not important that we know about every impact in every life – which exists beyond our circle of influence. - External: Who are you with, and who is with you?
While social (physical) distancing is important, supportive community is imperative for human health. Who are you connected with in these times – who am I there for and who is there for me. Supportive community requires that we think in terms of reciprocity – not giving til we drop, and not taking until others drop. - Process: What are you doing?
We are complex beings: mental, physical, and spiritual. We can choose to grow through this season, but that will require that we pay attention to certain “laws” that our interconnected systems function within. I have pointed to one of the mental facts above, and the physical runs much the same. It is a fact that we can significantly deal with stress by being physically active. We need to make the decision to get off the couch, put down the social media and take in fresh air, elevating our heart rate for 30 minutes.
The spiritual side is the most significant piece related to resilience. Not preaching here – I promise. Just academic research sharing. 65% of researchers agree that a connection to the “transcendent other” is the most significant contributor to resilience. 12-steppers have known this for a long time. Just be open to what might actually be true here. Don’t blow off what might be true because someone said / did something to you that hurt you. Been there; It sucks. I recently had someone ask me, “If you had a bad meal at a restaurant, would you stop eating out all together?” Good point: no.
One last question:
Are you finding any of the 3 questions I have posed above helpful to you as you live through COVID-19? Would you be willing to post a comment to the blog so that others might be encouraged?
If I can be of help in your personal resilience calibration, note that I have made a few time slots available specifically to those challenged by COVID-19 – at no fee (food bank donation). You can request one here: Coaching Calendar
