We are genetically wired to create community, to reach out, hug, laugh and be together. Now that we must be physically apart, it’s stressful. We are hardwired for survival too, and whilst we need to be alert to the dangers around us, it’s imperative for our well-being to have a sense of community, connection and kindness in all we do. An open heart to our vulnerability and our courage as we move through the stages of this pandemic is a must.
We all know mindfulness helps manage stress, but it’s hard to remember when our head is buzzing with so many questions. Will my children be okay? What about my parents? Is there enough food? How can I financially ride this storm? Day by day our anxiety levels will be changing with increased nervousness, worry and of course the fear of the unknown. We can’t fight with reality, but we can respond to this crisis with more self-care and kindness.
In our changing world, for now, we don’t even know if or when this will be over and that is terribly hard to accept. We need time for our mental adjustment to happen; it’s perfectly normal to feel sad and a deep sense of loss surrounding the way life was. It is also okay to just ‘be’ before feeling you have to get into a frenzy of action, preparing for what we’ll be calling our new normal.
We have the natural inbuilt desire to protect and provide security, just as we have a desire to create. Family security and taking care of the basic needs is essential for our sanity and the well-being of our children. In the weeks and months ahead physical and psychological good health will be equally important.
Especially for Your Kids
The reason I wrote You’ve Got the Power is that the well-being of our children really matters. Young people, going through life, hit challenges just like the rest of us. Make no mistake this pandemic will be turning their lives upside down too.
With schools partially being closed we need to give them structure. Young people without structure can get more anxious, nervous and restless. Our challenge is to give them daily routine at home. They’ll be struggling to deal with life under quarantine and to cope with all the bad news, bereavement and stress at this time will leave our youngsters reeling from the shock.
The question is what happens next? Do they hole up in their rooms spiralling with fear, apathy and worry? Do they see it a reason to give up on projects or revising? Or, on the other hand, maybe it sparks a light to create or learn something new.
Like us, our young people are facing a huge set back and inevitably will be worrying about life now more than ever. They’ll be missing so much of the way things were, from exams and sporting events, to shows and proms, where massive mental adjustments are called for. It’s just really tough for them. Routine and small achievable goals will help them deal with self-isolation and social distancing. Self-care and connection are essential now, during and after the pandemic.
Our children need to look after the basics first; eat regular meals, do a bit of regular exercise, drink plenty of water, get a regular sleep pattern going and take showers! Being cooped up at home is the perfect time to learn a new skill and try developing a stronger mindset. ‘You’ve Got The Power’ shows young people how to manage stress and anxiety and feel happier and more confident, in daily life. It also follows the blueprint of the Hero’s Journey for being brave, trying out new things and stretching your comfort zone. It’s a 42 day-by-day interactive and fun set of practices in journaling, mindfulness, confidence building and resilience strategies to transform their mindset. A ready-made well-being resource to support them in life.
Try out the practice below from the book. We are all really interested in giving our kids a courageous, kind and strong growth mindset and this book lays out some of the tools to help you do that.
What Matilda (age 14) says about YGTP:
“I really enjoyed how the book is arranged. It takes you on a journey from one day to the next. I’ve found that it’s really helped me to come to my breath more and to feel more grounded in my day-to-day life, helping me to feel more confident. How language is used in the book makes it approachable for many age groups.
What Mary-Louise, her Mum (a yoga teacher) says:
“I feel incredibly grateful for having found YGTP before gifting it to Matilda. I felt sure she would benefit from working with this beautiful and perfectly-pitched book in her own way and in her own time. What I didn’t expect was the wealth of delightful and surprising things that have sprung from this gift and which have started to emerge within this mother-daughter relationship as we have established some form of regular breath work together. This has felt an incredibly precious gift for me and to share this work during lockdown is a treasure for us to hold close forever. These feel like tender moments in which Matilda and I tune into our own selves as well as to sit lovingly in one another’s unique presence.”
Like at any other time, it’s important that we are not only looking after our physical health, but our mental health too. Keep connecting with positive social media like, snapchat, zoom and always reach out for help if you need it. Remember we are only at the beginning of this journey it’s normal to be feel wobbly now and then. For more FREE self-care tips and resources for you and your youngsters or to BECOME A MINDFULNESS MEDITATION COACH for children or adults visit my website https://smartfoundations.co.uk We will all emerge from this crisis with a new world view and I have no doubt the pandemic will be a transformational force. It is expanding our capacity for greater good as collectively we pause, reset and prioritise the security of the people in our life and our world with greater purpose and vision.
Be safe and well,
Love Paula
Paula