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Understanding the stress–inflammation–mental health pathway is about recognizing that caring for your body - through sleep, movement, nutrition, and connection - is also a way of caring for your mind.
Order is not a destination you arrive at. It is a direction you keep choosing.
This truth, once you really absorb it, is both humbling and deeply freeing. Things don't deteriorate because you failed. They deteriorate because that's what things do. The remarkable achievement - the one that actually requires something of us - is building and sustaining order against that current.
Stress Management is a skill like any other. Learn the hacks from people like me, practice that new mindset and those science-backed coping skills and most importantly, remind yourself you are human like the rest of us.
What strange times we are living in! So much of this experience is unprecedented. So much is still unknown. And, especially in the beginning, information was changing daily.
And yet many of you are doing ok, managing and maybe even learning to take advantage of a unique experience in small, progressive ways.
While I needed time myself to absorb it all and see how I felt and what I needed - and then what I wanted to do with my energy - I was able to stay connected to the pulse of my clients and my colleagues in NJ, NY and FL. I learned about the range of emotions and the range of experiences that people were having.
I observed how quickly we shifted to shame. Whether we were self-shaming or shaming others. Those on the couch celebrating in the occasional showers were shaming the hyperactive achievers posting their workouts and healthy meals on social media. And visa versa.
When in reality, we were and are all coping.
I didn’t notice anyone changing. Instead I saw an acceleration and intensification of each person’s personality and attitudes. So if you were scared before, you were terrified now. If you were disengaged from your life, you were disassociating from your body and the occurrences in the world now. If you were self absorbed before, then you were selfish and opportunistic now. If you were kind before, you were giving all you had and maybe too much now.
What have you learned about life in these unusual times? What have you learned about yourself? Write it down so you don’t forget. Get one new habit and start practicing it now to move toward that newly clarified value.
Pace yourself and above all, be kind to yourself. “Forgive and reset” as we often discuss in sessions together. Forgive yourself for being human and reset - each moment you can - back on track with your higher values. Self compassion serves to get you to your higher level goals in the long run.
Are you noticing more and more our interconnection to every living thing? Notice the impact that authentic human caring has on the small notes that make up the big symphonies.
Give yourself patience, kindness and empowerment.
