Is this our new reality?

It’s been almost a year since a state of emergency was declared in our City and across the World due to the global pandemic.

As of tomorrow, our region will move from lockdown to the red zone. (That is one level down from lockdown and a long way from Green!). If there was ever a time when I thought there would be an imminent return to some sense of normalcy, that feeling is fading quickly.

And of late, I have been asking myself. Is this our new reality? And if this is the case, what then can we do to make the best of our new reality?

We do have choices.

During these anxiety prone times we may not realize that we can still make choices to alleviate our fear and continue to be a beacon of positivity for others who are struggling.

I have been able to continue going to my office. However, there have been more than a few days when I felt like my head was so full of details and angst, I was being less than productive. The day that I noticed that I had moved a pile of paper and files from my desk to my credenza several times in less than a half hour, made me become present to the clutter in my head.

Productivity, creativity and Innovation.

And so I went in search of some direction to lead me down the path to ease my anxiety and bring some calm to my clutter.

I found this really helpful article on cultivating a calm state of mind on the website “Mindful, healthy mind, healthy life”: mindful I loved it so much, I’m going to subscribe to the digital and print version of this resource.

So here in abbreviated form, are four ways to cultivate a calm state of mind:

Breathe!

Practice Breathing Exercises ~ our breathing is a powerful way for us to regulate our emotions. “Through your breath you can activate your parasympathetic nervous system” read: the calming response in your body. Try this: Breathe in for a count of four, breathe out for a count of 8. Those long exhales activate the parasympathetic nervous system, and reduce your heart and blood pressure. I often practise this breath pattern up to 6 times at the end of my yoga practice.

Be Kind to Yourself!

Adopt an Attitude of Self-Compassion ~ being self-critical does not make us work harder. Self-compassion is the ability to be mindful of your emotions ~ and of what is going on inside whenever you fail at something. Just observe and notice. Speak to yourself as you would speak to a friend who has just failed ~ warmly and kindly.

Foster Genuine Connection!

Connect with others in a positive way. After food and shelter our greatest human need is to connect with other people. The oxytocin and natural opioids that are released when we connect with one another may exert a calming influence on our bodies. Taking care of ourselves and our own well-being with practices like breathing and self care will lead you to be more inclined toward connecting with others.

Practice Having Compassion for Others!

When we feel compassion, our heart rate goes down and our parasympathetic nervous system is more activated. Kindness and compassion are not out of style nor is practicing altruism, service and compassion for others.

As for me, I continue to practise all of these skills. Daily walks outdoors in nature is also part of my mantra. Breathe in, breathe out. Listen to the birds and the crunch of my running shoes on the snow on the pathway. Ahhh…….

Be kind to yourself and to others. Until next time,

Be bold, be authentically you!

~ Donna

~ this was adapted from an article in Mindful, and from Greater Good the online magazine of UC Berkeley’s Greater Good Science Center.