Creatively reframing – May 29, 2020

It’s hard. Actually, it’s really hard to have been in a position where I knew I could help leverage resources into our community and now to be sitting as a spectator during this period of COVID-19.

Being a spectator, almost feels like being a ‘victim’ – I am in the hands of decision makers, policy pundits and bylaw enforcement officers where rules are changing daily. Agencies and service providers are choreographing our lives in ways that impact our personal choices, our lifestyles, our family gatherings and our social interactions.

So yes, it’s hard. But here are a couple of tricks I am trying…

I am looking for new words as I try to reframe my thoughts:

1. Rather than ‘social distancing’, I am trying to think about physical distancing and ways to keep us socially close.
2. Rather than ‘safety first’ with an exponential trajectory of dangers, risks and mitigations, I am wondering about ‘physical distancing for reasons that are responsible and socially solid.’
3. Rather than feel fearful and anxious and distraught, I am trying to think ‘Gratitude First’. And it works! Gratitude helps to toughen my mental patina – and yes, it also takes some Grit.

How about you? Here is a suggestion: Consider asking yourself: ‘What might I have never tried or learned about myself, if it hadn’t been for the Global Pandemic declared on March 12, 2020?’

Now – write a list of 3 – 5 Gratitudes, reframing the negative, at this remarkably difficult point of transition. In your relationships, your work space, your nature walks, your garden, your world views and self-awareness – what’s shifting and can you reframe it positively?

I am trying hard to reframe the negative, so that I move forward with optimism and positivity. We cannot eliminate danger but we can try to be kind, minimizing risks to ourselves and others.

Human kind. Let’s be both. Even when it is hard.

“Adding wings to caterpillars does not create butterflies, it creates awkward and dysfunctional caterpillars. Butterflies are created through transformation.” — Stephanie Marshall

That’s all for now. Thanks for reading.