There is something holding you back. You can feel it. But you can't quite put your finger on it. Today is the First Day of Spring 2021 and yet there's something missing. When COVID-19 started to impact our lives, it felt like an incessant trickle of water dripping on a metal roof. Annoying at first, irritating at best, until it became a full-blown hurricane with the potential to tear our communities apart. And for some, that became a stark reality. For others, it was our defining moment of truth. Give in, give up, or carry on?
Is it safe to exhale? Is it ok to start making meaningful plans again? Yes. But rather than try to pick-up where you left off, maybe it's time to get a fresh start. Isolation led to innovation for many people as we found different ways to accomplish the mundane. Grocery shopping online, curb-side pick-up, delivery services, anyone? We came to rely on and embrace a new way of living.
We gave ourselves permission to explore who we are and what we really wanted from life. We questioned what living meant and collectively suffered through an emotional rollercoaster. Now what?
How do we help our families move into a new normal? How can we get a fresh start without starting from scratch? Try this.
1. Honor your past. Remember where you came from and the values you hold dear. Write them down.
2. Gather photographs that capture you and your loved ones in candid moments, living your best life.
3. Clear a safe space in your home. Declutter a corner, add a favorite chair, or build a pillow fort; whatever feels comforting.
4. Bring your photos along with any items that add to a feeling of safety, comfort, and joy.
5. Commit to spending 10-15 minutes a day in your safe space. Allow yourself that time to breathe and be yourself.
6. Pay attention to what is trying to pull you away from your safe space. Obligations? Family members? Anxiety?
7. Meditation is optional but it is helpful to close your eyes and give yourself permission to relax.
8. Ask yourself how you are feeling. Aim for peaceful relaxation. Focus on relaxing your mind and body.
9. Day by day, eliminate the thoughts, nonessential obligations, people-pleasing, and whatever else holds you back.
10. As you enter and leave this physical space, aim to carry it with you in your mind and focus on staying in the same relaxed state of being throughout your day.
With practice, these 10 simple steps will help bring clarity and make space in your daily life for what truly matters to you. It is a personal journey and everyone will encounter different things along the way. As parents, one of our most important duties is to be a role model for our children. Once you are comfortable, feel free to include them in your space. Invite them to join you and follow along. Or, help them create their own safe space. Share what you've learned and allow them space to start their own journey of self-discovery, self-care, and physical and mental wellness.
