As I write this, my hometown has declared a State of Emergency due to Coronavirus (Covid-19). It is a challenging time indeed, with many people out of work and parents needing to home school their children. This is a very big change for most people. And change to this degree can bring on large degrees of stress and worry.
Did you know that the ancient Chinese symbol for “crisis” is exactly the same as the symbol for “opportunity?” Viewing change as opportunity is the best possible way to find peace. It’s not always a matter of perspective, but we can find ways to achieve emotional and mental balance during times of great change and stress.
Problems, change, stress – they’re all part of everyone’s life, no one is exempt. Being able to adapt means being able to find equilibrium. We can refine our mental capacities to view adversity as a way to learn lessons and improve our life skills. Life challenges are to be expected and so, even before the challenges occur, you can access your toolbox and skill set for finding new ways of working. Knowing that you have these tools at your disposal will help with creating inner peace.
Basically, there are two ways to adapt to situations: the first is to adapt ourselves to situations that are beyond our control, and the second is to adapt situations so that they are better for us. One of these two options provides the solution to most problems, so you want to adapt either yourself or the situation in the most feasible and workable way.
Strengthening your ability to adapt is a choice that you make. It’s you making up your mind to be flexible, responsive, analytical, and solution oriented. Choosing to be adaptive, instead of fighting the issue means that you’re giving yourself freedom to take action to find a solution. Choosing to be adaptive means you’re the victor and not the victim. Right now, how adaptable do you understand yourself to be?
Here are 5 methods to help you increase your skills in adapting to change:
1. How’s your sense of humor? Humor is always a great ally. One of the things humor helps you do is to get some perspective on yourself and your situation. Humor can help you see the fun in a situation where you make a mistake. Ultimately, humor can make it easier for you to learn from your mistakes. In situations out of your control (such as worldly events that hold no certainty) humor can help you lighten your spirits and take your mind off of things for awhile. So treat yourself to some ‘Netflix and Chill’ with a comedy night.
2. How well do you control your negative emotions? Negative emotions are only natural to experience. Life can get difficult, especially when we have a lot of responsibilities placed upon us. When you’re in a stressful situation, try to take a moment to yourself and come back to center. Yoga is a great way to give yourself a timeout, and I will suggest some fabulous online classes for you at the end of this post. When you’re calm, it will be so much easier to deal with the situation.
3. Do you see change as normal or does it throw you for a loop? Evaluate the way you react to unexpected events. Make a conscious effort to take changes in stride. This is a skill you can learn, and it will help you in many different ways. Preparing yourself for hard times is a good first step, especially when times are easy. Please see my post on how to design an emergency survival plan.
4. How good are you at saying “No”? If you’re stressed because you’ve over committed yourself, it’s harder to adapt to situations as they arise. Make your schedule work for you, not against you. Learn to say “No,” calmly and firmly, whenever you need to. Often, by the time most of us realize we need time to ourselves, we are already burnt out.
5. Is your life way too complicated? Learn to simplify your life. Do your best to get rid of clutter and distractions that wear you out and get in your way. Decide what’s essential to you and what you really want to do with your time, and concentrate on that.
When you experience a violent storm, it’s easy to rail against the weather. The wind and the rain can seem terrifying, especially when coupled with the crash of thunder and the bright crackle of lightning splitting the sky. But ask any farmer, and they’ll tell you that even storms have their benefits. The rain is necessary for their crops. And believe it or not, lightning, when it strikes the ground, puts nitrogen into the soil that’s so badly needed for things to grow.
5 Yoga Classes to Help You Cope with Change
For those of us stuck at home or self distancing, online yoga classes can be a real treat. My go to is Yoga Download, and here are some words of encouragement, as well as suggestions for online yoga classes.
Being stuck at home isn’t ideal, but we can all do our best to try and make the most of it. During this time where we’re spending more time at home, it’s important to keep your body moving and your mind focused on positive thoughts as much as is possible. Now is when yoga really begins.
Below are our top 5 classes to help you deal with the changing times and make the most of your time at home. We’ve also included 5 easy healthy recipes to boost your immunity.
Stay healthy, keep your body moving, and think positive thoughts!
Seasons of Life: Flow for Times of Transition
Change is constant, but when we experience significant transitions like shifts in career, grieving a relationship or relocating, we can feel especially groundless. This practice is designed to help us restore inner stability, release stress and anxiety, and reconnect us to spirit as we navigate the seasonal shifts of our lives.
Reset Refuge: Simmer Down
Agitated? Distracted? Hyper? Use this soothing blend of pranayama, asana, mudra and meditation to wind on down. In this short practice you’ll move the energy of the upper body with down dog, plank and easy twists. You’ll ground down through the lower body with a few juicy standing poses. Finally, you’ll take refuge in a restorative child’s pose.
Healing 101: Yoga for Trauma, Grief & Illness
This yoga program is especially designed for those of us going through a challenging time in life. While common yoga themes of gratitude and love are always useful, for many, there are moments in life, where a different approach is needed. This program supports those going through a harder time, whether it’s old trauma, recent grief, or navigating illness. Studies have shown that trauma and illness has a strong connection to both the mind and the body. Yoga helps move stuck energy, grief, and trauma in the body. It often takes a slightly different and unique approach to the yoga practice in these trying times, which you will find in these classes. The focus of the classes in this program is around processing our emotions in a healthy way and supporting you through your own unique healing process.
Candlelight Healing Meditation
Everyone needs healing, whether it be on a physical, emotional, mental, psychological, or soul level. This meditation practice allows for healing to occur in every area, in a self-directed way so that you are the source of your own well being. Use this meditation to deal with chronic stress, injury or illness, or simply as a tune-up to stay tip-top. In any case, this meditation connects you with a deeper part of yourself that knows how to create long-lasting health. No prior meditation experience is necessary, so start your healing journey now!
Yin Yoga & Breath Work for Relaxation
It’s easy to become over-stimulated and chronically stressed your in modern day life. This practice teaches you to exhale, pause and create space. You cannot keep taking in and taking on when there’s no space or bandwidth. This Yin class will recharge you and encourage you to let go with your exhale so that you can feel lighter and start fresh.
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