SIF Coronavirus/Covid-19 Care Correspondence
/Letter Number 3 - March 29, 2020
Greetings Shift Into Fifth Community-
I'm continuing to think about you....ALL of you! My active clients and those whose lives I have been fortunate enough to touch in one way or another through this magnificent and eclectic Shift Into Fifth coaching community.
As we enter the next week of this challenging, surreal and unprecedented time vis a vis the Coronavirus/Covid-19, I want to touch base and continue to be a source of support and resources for you. While each day of this period has a strangely indistinguishable and repetitive quality to it (think Bill Murray and the Groundhog Day movie), I want to remind you once again that so many of you have done and continue to do the hard work to have 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!!!
As we continue to implement lots of common sense practices to keep our families, communities and ourselves safe (consistent 20 second hand washing, staying home/sheltering in place unless absolutely necessary, greeting others creatively without shaking hands or hugging, social distancing-standing at least 6 feet apart and avoiding crowded spaces etc.), I want to strongly remind you to be extra vigilant about your own self-care (hydration, nutrition, sleep, exercise, meditation/mindfulness, practicing self-compassion/kindness/gratitude, laughing/smiling, staying curious (asking who are my teachers today/noting lessons learned-today's takeaways), limiting social media/tv exposure, actively choosing/ingesting only the thoughts/stories that support your optimal self etc.).
I have been amazed at the tremendous amount of on-line free offerings (articles/classes/interviews/podcasts etc.) that have been created and made available to support us all in meeting this challenging and unprecedented moment. Grateful! I will continue to share what I find and encourage you to do the same with others in your circles (including me:-). To that end, I have put this 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.
This week, I want to share the special Covid-19 Resource Page of the great meditation teacher and writer Sharon Salzberg: https://www.sharonsalzberg.com/covid-19-resources/
While Sharon's website (www.sharonsalzberg.com) is always filled with valuable information, guided meditations (breath based, metta etc.), teachings, exercises, podcast episodes etc. 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 and features focused specifically on meeting this Coronavirus/Covid-19 moment.
And once again, I want to remind you that I am here for you-to support you in anyway that I can. If that means a 10 minute call for you to rant/vent, connect or simply get a pep talk for you and/or members of your circles, I am here. Creating more anabolic energy for 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.
With Gratitude and Purpose,
Valerie
PS. As many of you know, in my work and life, humor is an essential tool for shifting and staying in positive/anabolic energy. So in that spirit, I am sharing a new funny cartoon about what kind of jokes we can tell right now. And I am also attaching a helpful checklist of thought provoking questions that you can ask yourself each day as we are tasked to shelter in place/quarantine/social distance. This tool for greater self-awareness is a helpful reminder that during this time of great uncertainty and disruption, as with all challenging times, there are opportunities for powerful and meaningful growth.
PPS. Please remember to feel free to share these links and attachments with any and all who you think might benefit. We really are all in this together!
