It seems that right now, the entire world just got cancelled. No school, no sports, no work for many. We are all on lock down because of a hideous virus that is running rampant and taking lives left and right. It is all CANCELLED.
I know many are scared, nervous, depressed and desperate. Honestly I feel about 5 different emotions throughout one whole day. It starts with an endless bound of hope, and then sometimes quickly plummets to fear, annoyance and panic. So I don’t write this and say these things because I feel happy and unafraid and not taking this seriously. I am writing this because I understand the level of emotions that everyone is going through at any given time.
BUT I want to give you some tips to make it through this time. Because we will make it. Of all the things in this life, we will make it. I am sure of that.
Here is where this gets interesting. Instead of using this time at home, where we must stay and isolate ourselves, to keep reading the news, feeling the pangs of panic and depression set in, let’s use it to create more good in our lives.
I have to ask you a favor though. Will you be 100% honest and open here? Because if you are willing to do that, we can make a huge difference in our lives.
Before the COVID-19 set in, how many times did you say “I don’t have time to do __________”. I wish I could do __________ but I don’t have time, I don’t have money, I don’t have the ability with my job, kids, etc. Really think and be honest with yourself. How many times did you say or put off things because of an excuse that you do not have ________(time, resources, effort, etc). What were your EXCUSES that you were giving to not pursue your best life?
Don’t get me wrong. There are REAL excuses out there. I’m not saying that if you have something that is physically keeping you from doing something that you should just throw caution to the wind. What I’m asking is for you to DIG DEEP. Dig Deep down into your heart and soul and determine what is the life that you want for yourself. What does that look like? How does your best life look and compare to what it is now. Take a moment and write it all down. Don’t worry, I’ll wait...I got time!
And then DIG DEEP some more and start to figure out what is keeping you from having that.
I don’t know any statistics, but I would say it’s a pretty high percentage of us kept from the life of our dreams, simply by our mindset. Our mindset is one of the most powerful tools in giving us the life we have always wanted, and many times keeping us in the life we don’t want. And there is one tiny reason we don't have the absolute dream life we want.
FEAR
Fear keeps our mind safe. Fear keeps our body safe. Fear is the reaction your mind has when certain chemicals are released and you are about to walk off a cliff. Your mind stops you from dying because of FEAR.
The same fear you get when you walk to the edge of the cliff and the chemicals it releases, is the exact same fear when you tell yourself you want to make a change in your life. Whether it be to get up at 5am in the morning to start working out so you are healthier, or its to set up a meeting with your boss to ask for that promotion or raise. The fear is released and our brain tells us to stop. It will actually make up every EXCUSE that you have probably given yourself to not pursue it. So what do we do about it?
The one thing you can do during this COVID-19 Stay Home order is to change your mindset. Instead of waking up in fear every morning. Try waking up, and seeing what blessing you have today. I recommend not getting on your phone first thing in the morning, but instead, get up and write down 3-5 things you are grateful for. They can be very small things like, your home, your health, your family. Each day work on something different. When you start your day with gratitude, you are more likely to find gracious moments throughout your day.
Second, that sheet you wrote on. Ya the one where you wrote our your best life. Get that, and lets start making lists of the things you can do now. You no longer can say that you do not have time. Because many of us have plenty of it. You no longer can say your work hours prevent you from getting up and doing a walk/workout/run, each morning to start building healthy habits. Because many of us don’t have work right now.
Let’s not focus on the bad, and I know I can write an entire book on bad and scary right now, but lets focus on what we can do. We are given today. If you are reading this blog, you are given the day you have right now. Even if COVID-19 was not an issue. You are only guaranteed this moment and this moment only. Why not work today to build the future of your dreams! Use this time we have wisely and you will reap the benefits far after COVID-19 is gone.
Leave a comment or shoot me an email carrie@freelandphotos.com with your thoughts! If you are ready to go, I have a book to recommend to you and a person to follow. The “5 second rule” by Mel Robbins will change your life, if you let it. Go follow her on social media and download her book. Everytime I get stuck in a decision, I think of her book, and it helps me get moving again.
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