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#COVDChallenges: Action Steps to beat the blues and turn this into a positive opportunity.

If there is one article that you read today I recommend “That discomfort you’re feeling is grief” by Scott Berinato, published in the Harvard Business Review March 23rd. 
 
https://hbr.org/2020/03/that-discomfort-youre-feeling-is-grief
 
Berinato does an incredible job of explaining the stages of grief associated the Coronavirus. It also provides suggestions for how to respond to people in different stages.
 
My favorite part is the 6th added stage of grief (from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’s original 5): finding meaning. Acknowledging the legitimacy of each stage is incredibly important. These last two stages, acceptance and finding meaning though, are critical in our ability to continue to thrive despite all of the challenges this places.
 
Along with finding meaning I believe there is hope.
  • Hope that from this horrible situation that we learn and grow from this experience.
  • Hope that we will never take first responders or teachers for granted
  • Hope that stay at home parents finally get the credit they deserve for all they do
  • Hope that we learn to enjoy the littlest pleasures again
  • Hope that we establish new habits to appreciate and care for our families and friends
  • Hope that the new relationships and partnerships being built now will continue
  • Hope that we will all learn new habits to foster balance and self-care
  • Hope that individuals in remote areas will continue to benefit from telehealth and access to services
To help people get to and through the stages of acceptance and finding meaning, I would like to start a #COVIDChallenge for action Steps to beat the blues and turn this into a positive opportunity.
 
Challenge #1: Accept that we are grieving and identify what positive societal or personal change are you hopeful for or seeing as a result of the Coronavirus?
 
Please share in the comments. Each little positive thing we identify can help someone who is struggling with this.
 
 

#COVIDChallenge #3

What simple novel things can we do to make this a special and fun time for kids? See below for ideas. Add your own!

Can we put an animal in the window, have a bonfire in the middle of a weekday (thanks for that great idea Lindsay Christine), take a virtual music class (we we offer these! https://www.livingspirittherapy.com/pro…/sprouting-melodies/), dance, or art class, have weekend breakfasts during the middle of the week, have neighborhood nature hunts?

What else can we do to make this fun for the little ones in our neighborhoods (and the grown ups that care for them?).

#COVIDChallenge #4

In what way can you be of service to others while staying at home? What is your expertise or superpower? What can you do within your own level of safety, keeping in mind your own health risk. Can you call a friend or neighbor just to say hello and check in? Knowing someone cares and is thinking of you is very powerful in times like these. Think in citizenship terms. What can I do for the community from my own home?

Can you advocate for social priorities that are important to you? Can you make masks? Can you upload resources for activities to keep kids, families, or couples engaged in meaningful interaction?

Thank you to Craig DeLarge from The Digital Mental Health Project digitalmentalhealthproject.com for this great idea!