Letter Number 6/April 19, 2020

Greetings Shift Into Fifth Community-

I'm thinking about you....ALL of you!

Yes. This is Week 6 of some form of Shelter In Place/Physical (Social) Distancing and major disruption of life how we have lived it. I don't know about you, but I sure have a feeling like we're all on a bit of a never ending roller coaster ride and playing a major game of whac-a-mole. There's certainly a surreal/"otherworldly" quality to it all.

In working with some of my coaching clients this past week, I am noticing a change. There's a shift from the initial shock and fear of the lockdown and disruption to a fatigue and anxiousness of what's next. And there's a whole lot of talk about "when will this end?", "when can we go back to normal?", "when will things open up so we can continue our regular lives?". The desire for answers and certainty plus a return to normal is palpable....and certainly understandable.

Truth is, I have no magic ball and cannot predict the future. I'm not a doctor nor a scientist with insights into this confusing new virus. I do stay hopeful. And I certainly continue to be incredibly grateful to the healthcare providers on the frontlines and the medical experts/scientists/Governors-Mayors-local officials working hard at figuring out this new virus and coming up with concrete plans to move us forward in this new reality.

But I can offer my coaching perspective and share what I'm working on with my clients. It's a mix of making peace with what IS (reality), grieving what's been lost and is no more, and shifting into a sense of possibility/creation for what will be. It's a dance. And it takes intentionality and commitment; it takes choosing those thoughts/stories that support looking forward (not succumbing to fear, panicking about the present nor dwelling on the past); it takes compassion and patience toward oneself and others; it takes a loosening of the grip on expected outcomes and making room for more expansive possibilities; it takes a sense of curiosity, gratitude and wonder sprinkled with a healthy dose of humor; it takes embracing change; ane yes, it takes choosing courage and hope.

Developing and sustaining the inner muscles that support positive and productive action and energy is the work that we do together in the Shift Into Fifth community. So many of you have started and continue to do the hard work to cultivate and develop the inner tools to stay calm, centered and shift/utilize energy in productive and powerful ways. In other words, you are ready to meet this moment!!!

Please, stay extra vigilant about your own self-care - hydration, nutrition, sleep, exercise/movement, meditation/mindfulness/deep breathing, practicing self-compassion/kindness/gratitude, laughing/smiling, staying super curious (each day asking who are my teachers today/noting lessons learned-today's takeaways), limiting social media/tv/print exposure, actively choosing/ingesting those thoughts/stories/information that support your optimal self etc. Remember, this is a marathon...not a sprint!

Accessing resources is key! Please remember that I have put all the weekly SIF Community Coronavirus/Covid-19 Care Correspondence on my blog (www.shiftintofifth.com) with an additional (growing) list of resources for all of you to use and to share with others. Thanks to many of you, our SIF Community is growing and so are the list of resources-thank YOU!

This week's highlight resource is the special Pandemic Resource Page of the esteemed meditation teacher and prolific writer Tara Brach:

https://www.tarabrach.com/pandemic/

While Tara's website (www.tarabrach.com) is always filled with valuable information to help refocus, reinforce and build on so many of the tools that you already have in your toolbox, the website has added some resources, guided meditations and features focused specifically on meeting this Coronavirus/Covid-19 Pandemic moment.

I want to remind you that I am here for YOU-to support you in any way that I can. If that means a quick call for you to rant/vent or simply get a pep talk for you and/or members of your circles, I am here. Creating more anabolic energy for accelerated positive and purposeful change in the world is at the very core of my mission. Supporting YOU is key to that mission.

Stay strong. Be Safe. Stay Healthy. Be kind.

With Gratitude and Purpose,

Valerie

PS. In my work and life, humor is an essential tool for shifting and staying in positive/anabolic energy. Thus, I'm sharing a few new funny cartoons about dealing with the "new" normal and self-care/exercising at home. I'm also attaching 2 podcast episodes that I found particularly inspiring and illuminating (dealing with such essential themes as adaptability, self-compassion, responding vs.reacting, collaboration, remembering that we always have choices, resilience, gratitude and hope). Please take a moment to listen-you'll be glad you did.

PPS. And as some of you know, I have found myself "sheltering in place" very far from my home. Through some unexpected circumstances, I am in the desert (Arizona) with my bonus-mom, in a community with a whole lot of 80 plus year olds (I drive at night, so I'm a big darn deal here:-). While this is certainly not where I expected to be riding out this pandemic-away from home and away from my 3 children (who thank goodness are safe/sound and together)-I am taking my own advice-continuing to look for the lessons/teachers/opportunities and of course, staying grateful. I remain super grateful that I can be of service during this challenging time while learning from these wise and seasoned people. And the desert in spring is astonishing-a powerful reminder of the grandeur, majesty and power of nature. I have attached a few pictures of the desert blooming (magical) and the sunsets (glorious). Enjoy!

PPPS. Please remember to share these links and attachments with any and all who you think might benefit. We really are all in this together!

1. Listen to Oprah Winfrey's Super Soul Sunday interview Dr. Edith Eva Eger:The Choice https://youtu.be/9k39X6Osr0k

2. Listen to Love in the Time of COVID | Esther Perel from Ten Percent Happier with Dan Harris on Apple Podcasts. https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ten-percent-happier-with-dan-harris/id1087147821?i=1000470622830