Out Of The Ashes
The past year and a half pulled our attention in so many directions that people found themselves spending most of their energy in survival mode or cautiously maneuvering new obstacles. We were faced with an ongoing need to adapt to new realities such as: lost milestones, lost jobs, lost activities, and lost people. There was a noticeable decline in overall mental health, and obvious increased levels of stress for everyone.
Consequently, there’s been an uptick in unhealthy behaviors and coping mechanisms. I frequently hear about poor eating habits, disrupted sleeping patterns, unwelcome weight changes, reduced activity, increased alcohol/drug use, undesired parenting habits, and regrettable communication with others. With all this going on, it’s easy to overlook any good parts of the year.
So, here we are. Rising out of the darkness, and beginning to see some light. Consider what you’ve discovered about yourself and others this year. What ‘takeaways’ do you have regarding how you want to live going forward?
To help find meaning after making it through these chaotic times, take a moment to explore what you have learned.
REFLECT ON…
What didn’t go the way you planned?
What challenges did you overcome?
What did you miss out on?
What new habits did you start?
How did relationships with friends and family evolve?
What choices did you make that you feel good about?
How did you cope in the worst of times?
What would you do differently if you could?
What did you let go of?
What did you face head-on rather than avoiding?
How did your priorities change?
What did you leave unfinished?
How do you see yourself differently now?
What advice would you give your last-year self?
Think about how you want to move forward with more intention, awareness and insight. You made it this far – you already know that you can survive unexpected challenges!
PRESSING ON WITH PURPOSE
How will you incorporate your core values into daily living?
What will you do to step out of your comfort zone?
How will you take care of yourself?
Who will you reach out to for support?
How will you contribute to the world around you?
We are all a bit different from our ‘year-ago-selves’. Hopefully you have clearer perspective in certain areas of your life. I’d love to believe that more people have learned to talk openly about mental health and know how to ask for help when needed. It would be great if everyone could accept that it’s perfectly okay to be vulnerable. And most of all, I hope that we can each recognize that doing your best, is enough.