Covid-19 Check In - April 1, 2020
Wednesday April 1, 2020
Covid-19 Check In
So how are you doing? Ask yourself this question silently and slowly. “How am I doing?”. Now do it again breathe long, slow deep breaths. Where are you tense? Where is your mental focus? Bring your focus to your breath. Command your body to rejuvenate on the long inhale and relax on the exhale to the sound of your breath like the ocean. Inhale deeply and slowly through the nose counting to 8 or repeating a positive affirmation. On the exhale let the air out fully with emphasis, like you’re shooting the breath out for the same equal count through your mouth. The exhale is likened to the crashing of the waves. Relax your forehead, your face and jaw. Relax your neck, shoulders and arms. Continue this all the way down to your toes. Continue the long deep breathing meditation for as long as you like. Try to practice one to 11 minutes daily if you can.
Affirm to yourself, “I am strong, smart and resilient”. Look into what you can do to get support from what is available to you. Maybe you need to file for unemployment or deferment in rent. Keep up self-care with things like online exercise videos. Shop for basic needs to keep costs down. Eat healthfully. Stop smoking and drinking. Now is the time!
This pandemic is something none of us has ever seen the likes of. We cannot yet know the economic fallout, let alone the loss of life or how long it will take to come up with a vaccine. How we handle this is more important than anything. Stand strongly in your grace, dignity and truth. Practice self-care and self-love. You are resilient. It is a choice. You are strong. It is a choice. You are smart, it is a choice to learn and grow.
Be compassionate with one another as well as with yourself. We are all on edge. Practice safe social distancing protocols, wash hands with soap and water for 20 seconds or more and often. Consider making a homemade mask to wash and reuse when you have to go out shopping. Reach out to neighbors, friends and family via social media or phone calls. Listen to health experts and not social media junk. Verify sources and do not give out personal information.
We are all in this together. You are not the sum of your anxiety or suffering no matter how great; you are the sum of your dignity, character and compassion. Meditate, mediate, meditate…. the quality of the meditation will evolve the more you practice. May peace be with us all.
