As the second wave of lockdowns begin to hit, we have comfort in the knowledge of what that means, but that knowledge doesn’t change the anxiety we feel. Many of us are unemployed & feel stuck. With all the negative surrounding us, finding a way to see the beauty in life can be more than difficult. By starting our mornings with a written plan or to-do list & by keeping our minds busy with healthy conversation & tasks, we can turn this time we have into one that’s positive rather than negative. To do so, we must make an active choice to change our way of thinking.

NEGATIVE TO POSITIVE

While the government is busy coming up with ways to assist those in need, why not take the time to come up with healthy ways to fill your days? Since we’re unable to change what’s happening in the world, why continue to focus on that which we can’t change? We can’t control it & we certainly can’t fix it. Instead, let’s focus on what we can change. We can change our response to all that’s happening around us & that response, how we react, is everything. To do so, we need to start by working hard to replace our feelings of negativity with those of happiness. By surrounding ourselves with things that bring us happiness & encouraging positive feelings in ourselves, we’ll soon find ourselves feeling healthier & happier. Making a list of the things that bring us joy is a wonderful way to prepare ourselves for the next step of taking action.

IDEAS

What hobbies have you set aside due to work or family responsibilities? Finding new paths to walk & hike have been a fun way to get me outside. I’ve found so many incredible places locally that I never knew existed. I hadn’t ridden a bike in years, but recently found a great bike path super close to me. I now find myself wanting to go out & ride my bike like I did when I was little. When you’re stuck inside, what are some of the things you said you always wanted to get done if “only you had time?” Cleaning out that closet? Maybe sell some clothes online or make a spot at home to work out, inside or in the backyard? Have you wanted to scrapbook or do you enjoy arts & crafts? Take an online class or two? Depending on the subject matter, there are lots of classes open to the public & many are currently free. Now is the time to make room for positive activities that keep your mind busy & your day full.

TO ADAPT OR NOT

Everyday we make a choice. We can choose to be sad & lonely, or we can choose to smile & be happy. The pandemic isn’t going away any time soon. We can sit around & be miserable, or we can choose to enjoy the time we have to do the things we always wanted to do, but never seem to have the time. We can complain, or we can choose to adapt to our new environment & create a new routine for ourselves. The choice is ours. We can do it alone, or we can do it together. If we lean on each other, each day will get better. Together, we are stronger.

If you’re feeling overwhelmed or would like to bounce off ideas for your blueprint, drop us a line or leave a comment. Together, we can help each other be great! When there’s a will, there’s always a way.