“The Chinese use two brush strokes to write the word 'crisis.' One brush stroke stands for danger; the other for opportunity”
John F. Kennedy
These are anxious times. If you’re feeling a touch of unease as this all comes down, you’re not alone.
But here’s the thing: it doesn’t have to be a roller coaster of nervous energy and sleepless nights.
If you play your cards right, lean in to the challenge, and look on the bright side, it can also be the best opportunity you’ve ever been given. That one, six months from now, when you realize the silver linings far outweighed the storm clouds.
First Things First
Before we can rise like a Phoenix, we need to deal with the emotions that are dragging us down. Namely, fear and anxiety.
Just because I’m a wellness coach doesn’t mean I’ve sailed calmly through the waters of a worldwide pandemic. This is far from the case. Like everyone else, I’ve had my highs and lows, my crying jags, my defiant solo dance parties, and underlying it all, that massive sense of uncertainty about where this is going.
At about Week 3 of self-isolation with my husband and kids, I realized I had two choices.
One, place all normal rules on hold, eat wagonloads of junk food, watch way too much TV, spend endless hours on Instagram, and sag into a pit of despair.
Two, place all normal rules on hold, and reinvent myself.
If you prefer Door Number One, go for it. If, however, you’re mildly intrigued by the possibilities of Door Number Two, here’s your roadmap 💫
6 Ways to Turn Crisis Into Opportunity
Get up early. Let your brain know this isn’t an endless spring break.
Set a routine. Find a schedule that works for you, then do it every day. Weekends are a pass, just like normal life!
Connect to yourself. After hitting that alarm button, meditate for ten to fifteen minutes before doing anything else (including coffee and checking your phone). This can be guided or not. Round out this quiet interlude with three things you’re grateful for.
Exercise. This is important for your physical self, but it’s downright critical to your mental health. Get those feel-good hormones flowing first thing in the morning. Bonus points for getting outside; it is, after all, spring.
Set a goal each day. This can mean baking cookies or working on the Nobel Prize. Your goals are up to you. But here’s your chance to try something new, something that perhaps - just perhaps - pushes your boundaries. For big goals, winnow them into bite-size chunks and take it one step at a time.
Dream. This crisis has offered us an incredible shuffling of the deck. What priorities do you dream of achieving in the months and years to come? We’re working on a universal deep dive: use this time to reflect on what really matters to you.
Heather Martin is a Naturopath & Wellness Coach living in Montreal, Canada. She is the founder of The Acorn Wellness and lectures on the topic of accessible wellness for all. Heather has contributed to various publications, including Mantra Mag and the Globe & Mail. Her first book, The Wheel of Wellness, will be published later this year.
