Centering amid the chaos

Join me for daily In-the-Equation Check-Ins – FREE on Zoom

Hello! How are you doing?

Anyone feeling uncertain, unsettled, unfocused, or unproductive? How about disoriented, disconnected, anxious, worried, sad or tired?

Yep, me too! I’m feeling all of those things, plus gratitude, hope, kindness, love, laughter, courage, creativity, compassion, confidence, and determination.

I’m on a roller coaster of emotion and trying to find my way. My guess is, so are most of you.

I’ve spoken to about 30 people since the words — Coronavirus, COVID-19, global pandemic, social distancing, and flattening the curve — became part of our every day lives. Most, describe this experience as surreal and unsettling. For sure, it’s upending life as we knew it.

If you’re riding the roller coaster of emotion and craving connection, structure and support — I want you to know you’re not alone, and I’m offering a way to connect.

We’re in this together

Few, if any, of us could have predicted months ago that we would be in this predicament today. Living in social isolation, in the middle of a global pandemic, grappling with life and death issues, fearing for our safety and security, and wondering what the future holds. It’s definitely surreal.

As one quote stated that came across my social feed this past week:
“This shit was not on my vision board!”

It’s good to laugh, honestly. But for most of us, this is uncharted territory — perhaps new normal for awhile. And it’s  challenging almost everything we’ve come to know and trust. It’s shaken us to the core and catapulted us on a roller coaster ride of emotions. At the same time, it’s forced us to get back to basics, to dig deep to find our personal strength and resilience, and it’s helped us get in touch with what’s really important in our lives. Many of us will find opportunity and growth in this. But that doesn’t mean it’s easy.

Because so much is out of our control, our emotions are all over the place and we’re feeling stressed. We’re worried for our loved ones, concerned (and grateful) for those on the front lines working to keep us safe, and feeling distanced from friends, colleagues, and our social networks. We’re experiencing a loss of “normal,” and we don’t know when it will end.

All of this requires us to rethink and restructure our day-to-day lives. Let’s face it, some days we have more bandwidth for this than others.

Finding “center” amid the chaos

A couple of weeks ago as I read the news and saw things unraveling around me — most of it out of my control, I made a personal decision to be a positive force. To continue to live my best life with courage, compassion and conviction. I decided to continue to put myself in the equation every day, and doubled down on practicing healthy habits — all at a time when the urge is great to sit in front of the TV with a pint of ice cream or a bottle of wine.

Choosing positivity and courage amidst chaos is FAR easier said than done. It’s a choice that I must recommit to every day — sometimes multiple times per day! Some days I win. Some days are a mixed bag and I do okay. Other days I struggle – A LOT. But, like most of you, I’m trying to do my best. Oh, and it’s only been two weeks! 🙂

I’ve found guidance from personal development experts Brendon Burchard, Brene Brown, and Gretchen Rubin, as well as resources like the Greater Good Science Center whose mission is to provide “science based insights for those seeking a meaningful life.” I’ve asked friends and colleagues about what’s working for them. And, I’ve worked hard to get back to the basics of self-care — tending mind, body and spirit. I now know that taking care of me is not only important, it’s an act of survival. It greatly increases the likelihood that I’ll have more good days than bad, and almost guarantees that when I engage and show up for others, I do so as a better version of myself.

So, like many, I embarked on a new routine to help me focus, center and plan my day. I’m sharing it here in the hope it’s helpful to you.

A simple daily practice – 4 questions

At the start of each day, I ask myself four basic questions — BEFORE I look at my phone or read any of the day’s news.

1) What am I grateful for?

2) How am I going to move my body and get outside today?

3) Who am I checking on or connecting with today?

4) How am I creating or cultivating beauty in the world?
[This can be focused on career/work and what I need to accomplish toward my work goals. It can be focused on volunteering or helping others. Or, it can be creating art or music — or anything that serves as a creative outlet.]

How are you centering amid chaos?

Are you using this time to develop a new structure to your day? Are you finding ways to continue to practice healthy habits? To connect with others? To be a good role model for your kids?

If you’re looking for connection or searching for ideas, tips, and inspiration from others in the same boat…

If you feel it would helpful to have some built-in time to focus, or you’re seeking accountability and support…

If you’d love to do a morning check-in to set the tone and focus of your day, to help you center…

Join me starting Tuesday, March 31
for the In-the-Equation Daily Check-in
7:30-8 a.m. CDT / 8:30-9 a.m. EDT (Via Zoom)

In-the-Equation Daily Check-In – let’s help each other

Beginning Tuesday, March 31, I’m hosting a 20-30 min In-the-Equation Check-In on Zoom daily. My goal is to offer a safe space and structure for people to check-in, claim their focus or priority for the day, and/or speak to one of the four questions.

We’ll support each other and share inspiration, resources, tips and techniques. This is not a structured coaching call, but rather an informal check-in. It’s meant to provide a format for connection, encouragement and support as we try to “find our center” through the chaos. I’ll be participating with you.

To join, connect with me here.
Or, direct message me on Facebook or Instagram.

All are welcome! So please feel free to pass this on and invite others. To sign up, I’ll need your email address so I can invite you to the Zoom meet up. You can join once, occasionally or make it part of your daily routine. Once we get a few core folks signed up, I’ll confirm the best time of day.

Take good care of yourselves and each other

I believe this is a time to pull together, to take care of ourselves and be there in support of each other and our larger community, and world. My heart and my immense gratitude goes out to those on the front lines battling this disease and protecting the rest of us.

This is one small way I can cultivate connection and courage, and create some beauty in a world that feels out of control right now. I trust we’ll get through this and come out on the other side. But wouldn’t it be awesome if we did so by pulling together as a human race — all — with kindness, courage and compassion?

Stay safe. Be well.

xoxo

Lori