Raising our self awareness to manage crisis

While we're in lock down, we're spending a lot of time in isolation with our own thoughts.
And if your mind is anything like mine, it's a pretty busy place. So it needs active management now more than ever (when there are genuinely worrisome things happening).

If we're lucky, we still have employment. And that provides a distraction from what's going on in our heads for a large chunk of the time. But our evenings? The weekends?

If we're barely leaving the house, that's a lot of newly freed up time to be in our heads. Now that we've completed two weeks of lock down and we've adjusted a little to working from home, it's worth pausing to make active choices about the thoughts we're allowing ourselves to think.

Because our thoughts create our feelings, which influence our behaviour, actions and therefore outcomes. And we want positive outcomes wherever possible from this lock down.

So think about what outcomes you want to create. For example, decorating a room, reading an interesting book, learning a new skill, painting a picture..

Or maybe the outcomes you'd like are about helping others, for example applying to be an NHS volunteer, buying food for your vulnerable neighbour, regularly calling any family or friends who live alone.

Whatever it is, here's some questions to help you get there:

1) What are your regularly recurring thoughts about this crisis? Write them down.

2) Are these thoughts helping you work towards the outcomes you want to create?

3) If yes, great, bring on those positive outcomes. If no, what new thoughts would help you create the outcomes you want? Write them down and mentally rehearse them.

When a lot can feel out of control at the moment, remember that your thoughts are precisely that. Yours.
So if different thoughts will help you, choose those instead. I'd love to hear what you're creating and how you're managing your mind. Hit reply and let me know.

P.S.  I hope you are healthy and safe. I think about you all a lot and am sending positive thoughts your way.