This week’s blog will be a little bit different, so bear with me.
I’ve heard the phrase “never waste a crisis” many times in the past month.
I also heard recently, whether true or not, that the Chinese translation of the word “crisis” is the combination of the words “danger + opportunity.”
Again, I don’t speak Chinese so I cannot speak to the accuracy of that, but I do believe there is truth to the idea.
A crisis is truly just the approaching of a critical point, and the way we decide to respond is how the crisis is either averted or mismanaged.
I am a firm believer in the power of opportunity and choice with regards to how we shape the future. While there are often many variables that leave certain circumstances beyond our control, it is how we choose to respond to the options we have. I believe this is what makes one resilient.
It is easy to blame, to point fingers, to feel sorry for our situations. And I think sometimes those things happen naturally out of stress and and/or fear. But I think it is obvious that sitting with those feelings for too long is extremely detrimental to self and others.
On the other hand, I have witnessed many amazing people respond very positively to our current crisis. I’ve seen neighbors buy groceries for each other, people give up their living space to hospital workers, and celebrities sing songs to lift spirits (okay that one was a joke).
I don’t think anyone would argue the former is more beneficial to society than the latter.
Which is why I want to encourage you at this point to use the situation you have and turn it into something positive for yourself, your family, and your community.
Examples:
Not feeling great about your current physical fitness? You’ve got boatloads of free online options for getting in shape available right now.
*SHAMELESS PLUG: check out our Quarantine to 5k or Quarantine to 13.1 running programs*
Normally too busy to cook nutritious meals? You’ve got time now. Bonus: do it with your kids, they’ll remember this time for rest of their lives. More importantly, they’ll remember how you responded to this crisis.
Sleep hygiene was non-existent? Use this time to establish routine.
It is easy for me to say this from the comfort of my quarantine. Which is why I have chosen to workout 5x a week and do 1 random act of kindness a week. While one makes me personally healthier and the other makes me feel good about myself. The impact both of these is huge. 1) I can maintain my health to continue to serve others 2) acting in kindness is never lost on those we are kind to.
How will you choose to respond given our current crisis?
Please send in emails, videos, pictures of all the positive things you see and do and we will begin to post these on our social accounts!