June 2020

With the pandemic, there has been a radical change in social behavior. Over the last couple of months of adaptation, many of us have been feeling a little overwhelmed.

The stress associated with relationship loss, job relocation, home instability, illness, and changing behaviors is well known. COVID-19 has made all of these a real possibility or a reality. It is testing our ability to adapt to support ourselves and our dependents.

Check-in right now and take a deep breath and let it go. Take comfort that these restrictions will not be in place forever. And, whatever specific challenges you are dealing with at this time will pass. At this moment, are you doing what is needed? In this instant, are you giving yourself space to adjust? Right now are you giving yourself time to let go and grieve?

Stress comes from making lots of changes in a small space of time. This includes changes to our routines and behaviors as well as changes in our expectations and plans.

Stress also comes from disruption to our sense of control over our life outcomes. There has been a lot of change in our perception of what is predictable. Our careers, investments, and even our lifespan all appear to have increased instability.

Read More »Managing the Stress of Radical Change

The COVID-19 pandemic has motivated us to better understand viral transmission.
How do we stop the coronavirus from spreading?
How do we stop the seriousness of the coronavirus if we catch it?
In other words, how do our healthy practices address both our exposure and our immunity?

Stopping the spread by reducing exposure

We have spent time paying close attention to how this strain of flu spreads. We have sorted through the often contradictory messaging of the health advisories. All to figure out the practices we should adopt to minimize our risk as well as the risk to others and as far as possible still go about our daily lives.

Read More »Healthy Practices: The Secret to Protection through Prevention

Matters of money are like a river that eddies and flows. The water flows to you, and away from you, and pools around you. This maps to three key areas of financial flow of income, outgoings, and investment.

Under the COVID-19 pandemic, personal finances are taking a hit in each of these areas:

• There is uncertainty around the continuity of income, especially in nonessential sectors.
• Major changes in lifestyle mean that outgoings are shifting.
• Investment plans need reevaluation due to volatility.

There is a general realignment of priorities for these three key areas of financial flow. However, you can make this work in your favor.

Read More »Financial Flow Matters: Three Key Areas

This is just a quick post to share a Three Appointment Technique that has been working great for me recently. I have been using it to fulfill my goal of exercising.

It radically improves follow-through.

It also reduces your stress level about getting things done.

And, it is a great way to feel confident about making changes to your routine such as introducing new habits or goals.

Read More »Success with the Three Appointment Technique

The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted a curious paradox in our experience of bliss.

On the one hand, we are confronted with realities such a loss of freedom, financial and career instability and illness, and the possibility of death. This appears to be the opposite of bliss. We adjust our internal mindset to the daily increase in statistics of unemployed, confirmed cases of infection, and death from COVID- 19. We come to terms with the prospect of continued social isolation and new social distancing protocols. And, we have a greater awareness of the suffering in our community of shortages, health issues, social inequities, and loneliness.

On the other hand, we are also finding ourselves really appreciating what we have: food and water, supportive bonds with friends and family. We laugh at some of the jokes about the demands for toilet paper and soap as a comment on people’s previous levels of hygiene and what is most important when the chips are down. With this candid look at our humanity, we find these moments of bliss, when we are able to allow, let go, be in the moment, and just bear witness.

Read More »How To Have Bliss In Your Day