Have you noticed how some people seem to be making the most of pandemic time?
Restaurants have closed. Businesses have failed. People have passed. But, there are still those people in our midst that seem to not only keep going but are actually thriving during this time of uncertainty!
Smiling and waving even. Some of us have even started new businesses and solidified new relationships.
How dare they?
Today I’m going to share with you 3 powerful ways to keep going when you feel like you absolutely can’t. Here we go:
How to Keep Going When You Feel Like You Absolutely Can’t
1. Find your Community.
One thing 2020 has taught us, is that where we really want to be spending most of our time is in communities. In the future, that is where we will want to be.
Being part of a community gives people an opportunity to be a part of something bigger than themselves. In a community, we learn that we’re all the same. We all have the same fears. We all have the same joys. We’re all a little nerdy. We all have something that makes us truly unique.
I am able to recognize this, because of my community. There is a commonality that unites us – and that is what we all need right now – commonality and unification.
I am one of those fortunate souls that has built a business around what I love. My business was built around building community, supporting local businesses and having a lot of fun while we do it. BUT, my business was built on travel, festivals and group events.
I was very fortunate that using that same community-building goal, I was able to pivot during the pandemic and will come out on the other side better for it. When many people suffered tremendous loss, I had an amazing audience of women when I started, but because of the pandemic, that audience has different needs now – but they’re still there.
I feel like, through my pivot, I have been able to give the community something it needs on a bigger scale. I was able to do this, because of the strength of my community.
Maybe it’s the same group at a yoga class or the same moms in the carpool line. You smile and wave, but the thing is, as we get older it’s harder to make friends.
There is no adult playground. And choosing teams as an adult seems to have consequences that can affect you for the rest of your life. I encourage you to find a positive group of people.
Connect with people who make you smile. Love and be loved. Tell a joke. Be the light for those around you.
People will always remember how you made them feel. If you need a little pick-me-up, check out any of the many churches or spiritual groups online. Find a business or networking group. Join a yoga class. Don’t be afraid to be the first to reach out, you’ll be glad you did.
Just keep going!
2. Know Yourself.
As we approach the winter months, don’t be afraid to ask yourself the hard questions. Recognize your feelings and sit with them. Sit, don’t wallow. Go lightly. Know that whatever your feeling is valid.
Many of us feel overwhelmed, tired, or even fearful. There are solutions to turn all of these feelings back into alignment.
The first step is recognizing which feeling it is and keep going.
Often times, the easiest solution is JUST DO SOMETHING. Forward action cures fear. Forward action helps us knock off one more brick in the mountain of overwhelming tasks. Forward action can be as simple as taking a nap, buying a co-worker a cup of coffee, or hugging your family.
Just do something!
Another way to learn about yourself, if to just hit the pause button. Incorporate some yoga or breathwork into your day-to-day routine.
Breathwork and yoga bring each individual, no matter their age, into the present moment. It raises our awareness of our physical bodies and physical presence in time and space. Being in the present moment eliminates a lot of unnecessary distractions.
Something as simple as focusing on the breath can turn the volume down on the world around us until those distractions fade into the distance.
3. Practice Gratitude.
Mindset is everything—our thoughts control our lives. If you don’t believe me, try it for one day.
Instead of immediately finding what’s wrong with a situation, find five things that are right. Instead of finding fault in your coworker, find five things that are great.
Watch what happens after just one day. Many of us are battling anxiety and depression on top of everything else. It is okay not to be okay right now. But it is not okay to stay there.
It has been said that gratitude opens the gates of abundance. But what does that really mean?
It means when you focus on being grateful for what you love about your life, more of what you love will be drawn to you. Quick!
What are the top 5 things you’re thankful for?
If it’s hard, start small. List your favorite people, pets, foods, or activities. Then remember a moment about one of those things that you really love. Keep going a little deeper.
Research supports getting in the habit of a small practice of gratitude such as this and it will allow you to experience more positive emotions, feel more alive, sleep better, express more compassion and kindness, and even develop a stronger immune system.
This year has brought more uncertainty than most years past. Being in the unknown can be disorienting. It’s ok to have days you feel like you can’t keep going, but it’s not ok to stay there.
Practice gratitude, get to know yourself and find your people in your community.
Together we can do this. So keep going, onward and upward!
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Kristi McDonald
Kristi is a serial entrepreneur, educator, and CEO of ETeacherApp.com, the site created to help teachers and families navigate through the next school year. She is also a recognized children’s yoga specialist, published children’s author, and Chapter Director of Boss Talks DFW. Connect with her or sign up at ETeacherApp.com
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