Cultivating Resilience

Many of us feel overwhelmed in the midst of the current crisis . It is affecting all of us now and may forever.

As we reach out to our teams, colleagues and friends we remember that with uncertainty comes fear… fear for our health, fear for our livelihood, and fear that our world will never be the same again.

We as leaders have to build-up our own resilience and help our people find and cultivate it.

To cultivate resilience it is important to remember that denying or pushing fear away by creating distractions, submerging in work or being frantic does work or do us well. What works and is healthier is to recognize and accept the feeling and remember that fear is just one of many natural human emotions; “it is not good or bad, it is normal, temporary, and is a response to lack of control. “

In times like this we want to be brave and willing. To cultivate compassion and mindfulness. To reach out to others who just like us cope with uncertainty, fear, and anxiety.

Brave and willing to accept our difficult feelings and knowing they will eventually go away. Mindful of the way we interact within and with others and knowing that compassion starts with self.

Be gentle and practice self-care; breathe, meditate, eat healthy, exercise, try to sleep, and allow yourself some down-time. When you do, you will be able to find ground, respond and not react, and cultivate the capacity to demonstrate compassion for others. When your mind shifts from self to others you turn more positive and you transform others.

We are human. We want to be seen and heard. All of us! Reach out because emotional and social support is important and it enhances resiliency. And while we may not be able to touch, we can see, hear, and intently listen.

This too will pass and we will overcome.

April 2020