7 Practices to Help Yourself in Challenging Times

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">During this pandemic, many are growing weary of being stuck at home. They’re having to adjust to a new way to life; their plans have been disrupted; there’s a lot of negativity all around; the people around us are stretched thin… It’s a hard place to be.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">There’s a lot in our environment over which we have little control. </span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But you can control how you feel. </span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Really, Brenda? Even in times like this?</span></em></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Yes! No head burying in the sand needed. This episode is not about denying reality or pretending life is something it’s not. It’s about taking control of your state, moment by moment.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I have a lot of tools for breaking out of negative patterns to feel better. I’ve narrowed this episode down to 7 things you can do</span> <em><span style= "font-weight: 400;">now</span></em> <span style= "font-weight: 400;">to not only save your sanity in this current crisis; you’ll simultaneously be setting yourself up for a more fulfilling life on the other side of all this. </span></p> <ol> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Acknowledge negative thoughts and feelings but don’t let them run their course. Interrupt them! We’ve talked about pattern interrupts before. Get out of old, negative neural ruts by throwing a monkey wrench into mental patterns that no longer serve you. Acknowledge what you’re feeling, and then identify what you want to feel instead. Imagine the positive consequences of feeling better. </span></li> <li style="font-weight: 400;"><span style= "font-weight: 400;">Practice gratitude. No matter how bleak things get, there are still things to be thankful for. Focus on those positive things. Many are holed up with family members and are feeling stir crazy. Make a list of the positive qualities of the people you’re “stuck” with