April 2020 Newsletter : This Too, Shall Pass

This Too, Shall Pass

If you ever played Monopoly, you would know that every dice roll could lead to unpredictable grounds.  You might land on your missing land, or you might have to start over. Ever so often, we encounter setbacks, challenges and debacles.  As we figure out the changes in our way of life, work and well-being, it's only human nature to feel disappointment and anxiety. We can easily feel frustrated and lose our passion for life in such difficult situations.  What we must do is to learn and evolve.

Charlie Munger once said, “Life will have terrible, horrible, unfair blows in it. You have to find the silver lining in those blows, avoid self pity and carry on”.

Nothing valuable ever comes easy. Challenges are the best gifts life sends to us to keep us growing. We can garner new habits and routines.  Keep working on it and keep unwrapping this beautiful gift in self discovery.  Keep the dice rolling and you will find yourself landing on the sweet spot!  At the moment, staying safe/staying alive and hoping the global pandemic will subside and disappear when vaccine is manufactured and distributed is what we all yearn for.

Regardless, find joy in the new awareness of your everyday gratitude. it is essential to take stock of our health, good fortune and safety.

Renew Zest in Your Life

1. Self Care
   You don’t have to follow trends! Self-care takes investment of time and now is a perfect time. It is challenging to keep up with your new routines and know that you can skip it if you need to. It is not written in stone! Give yourself some me-time and de-stress. Let the opportunity unfold or let sit with something before you begin.
   
2. Journaling
   Start a new journal and write down random thoughts. Jot down your achievements and goals. Ask yourself what is it that you appreciate in life. Your journal can also list your gratitude for the day. What do you take for granted and now see differently? Sometimes a simple thing like having hot water for your shower is something to be grateful for.
   
3. Music to Your Ears
   Have a song that you love? Learn to play it on an instrument. Even learning one song will give you the opportunity to bond with others, start a new routine and accomplish something different. Try to listen to music other than your usual genres and languages, you will see things from a different perspective.
   
4. Learn a New Language
   Stay sharp as Language learning helps boots brain power and improves memory. It also develop cognitive skills. Learning to Learn with Barbara Oakley teaches us to take a step back from the work, to assess the way we approach work. Barbara is an incredible writer and speaker who teaches us that neuroscience can inform the way we approach new topics or problems.
   
5. Get Creative
   Do you have a project you’ve been putting off for a long-time? Maybe you have a writing project that’s been sitting in a minimized word document for months, or you’ve been hoping to master Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered on piano. This is the opportunity you’ve been waiting for to become a virtuoso! Just set aside 30 minutes a day to take your first steps towards a long neglected creative pursuit.
   
6. Renovate and Clean-out
   It can be as simple as rearranging furniture or hanging up new photographs or cleaning out cupboards and closets. Let Feng Shui inspire you with your new surroundings. Take this advice on decluttering your re-usable bags from Linda Chu of Out of Chaos. You will be surprised how such a small task can make a big difference in your chi.
   
7. Exercise
   Ensure that you are doing your best to stay health and strong. Try Yoga at home or isotonic workouts. These are routines will help you feel better and improve your thinking, learning and judgement skills.
   
8. Online Courses
   There are many fantastic learning resources available online, offered through several extremely reputable institutions. Now is a great time to learn a new skill or program, especially one that you can use towards professional advancement. Do your research, take the plunge and consider this period of “social distancing” professional development. The flexibility in e-Learning allows you to set your own schedule and pace, making it easier to learn what you want.
   
9. Be A Bookworm
   One of the best ways to get out of your own head is to employ the age-old strategy of reading a novel! Unlike Netflix or YouTube reading offers an abundant of benefits like improving the functioning of the brain, increases your vocabulary and imagination and alleviates depression decline. And, it requires concentration and commitment that will force you to think about the struggles of the characters, not your own.
   
10. Grow a Garden
    Gardening is very therapeutic, and studies have found that the mental health benefits of gardening are extensive. It gets you outside and is a great form of exercise. It reduces stress and you get to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
11. Grab a Pen
    Write a letter to someone, or a thank you note that is long overdue. Something we are so overly connected digitally we forget how that warm and fuzzy feeling a handwritten note can bring.
    
12. Chill out!
    Take the pressure off. Even with what feels like endless time, we still have many life and work commitments to take care of. Maybe what you need right now is rest. Don’t judge yourself for not being more productive with your free time. Instead, take deep breaths and allow yourself to be comfortable.

James Clear, author of Atomic Habits offers great advice.