Have Compassion for Yourself During A World Crisis

Originally published in Sass Magazine

The only thing you need to commit to doing right now, in this moment, is to have compassion for yourself. The entire world has changed. Your personal world has changed. You are doing the best you can right now, and girlfriend that is enough. The best thing that you can do for yourself during challenging times is to be kind to yourself. Give yourself permission to figure things out as you go and adapt to change however you choose to. 

There is so much noise on the news and social media right now. Everywhere you to turn you are told what you should be doing, what you could be doing and what you should not be doing. Fear right now is normal, and so are all your other feelings. While you might feel like there is not much that you can control right now, you have more power that you might realize.

The Power of Choice 

Challenges give you choices. For example, you have the power to control your mind, your actions and reactions. While you are not immune from negative or fearful thoughts, you can choose to redirect your thoughts to something positive or empowering. You also have power regarding how you spend your time. You can choose whether you spend time accomplishing tasks on your to-do list, or whether you spend time doing little to nothing at all. Either way, do not judge yourself, especially right now.

You also have the power to choose how you feel about how you spend your time. For example, you can choose to either feel happy and productive, or guilty and lazy, for reading a book you love instead of streaming a live workout in your living room. Likewise, you can also choose to feel obligated to organize, clean and detox your home, or you can choose to feel grateful for time to slow down, sleep in and do minimal activities to rejuvenate yourself. Whatever you choose to do, or not do, is a personal choice. Embrace your power and feel confident about your choices rather than content, or disappointed, with them. 

Allow Yourself to Feel and Be Present in the Moment 

Maybe you have more time with less obligations right now, or maybe you have less time with additional obligations. Either way, your routines and schedules have changed, therefore, your expectations of yourself must change. 

Consider being present in the moment to notice how you feel. Notice whether you feel called to do something, or whether you feel obligated to do something. You might feel obligated to accomplish and achieve more with your time right now, but maybe you have no desire to do so. Maybe you feel like you should be creative or ready to take inspired action, but you feel unmotivated and want to do less. Or, maybe you are soaking up every second you have right now, to create and accomplish, and you feel motivated and energetic about it. Whatever feelings you have, acknowledge them rather than ignore them. Listen to your body, your mind and your heart. Challenge yourself to do, or not do, more of what you feel like doing in the moment. Give yourself grace and celebrate yourself as needed.

It Is Never Too Late To Start, Or To Start Over

Goals are important and you can recommit to them whenever you need to, however you need to. The best part is that you can adjust your goals as you go because you have the power change your mind whenever you want to. Whether you are eating more and moving less, or whether you are crushing your health and fitness goals, you are just as worthy as you have always been. Your value is not defined by your achievements, remember that. Give yourself some flexibility with your personal and professional goals, you deserve it.   

Compassion + Action

There is not one size fits all guide on how to remain calm in the middle of chaos. However, regardless of the desires and goals you have right now, the biggest goal that will serve you well right now is compassion. Build yourself up like you would if your best friend was struggling and celebrate yourself like you would if your best friend was thriving. 

Commit to having compassion for yourself, especially right now in the middle of a world pandemic. Perhaps that is an interesting perspective shift for you to ponder: If I cannot give myself compassion during a world crisis, when will I ever be able to?  This is where I kindly remind you that you always have a choice. Right now, in this moment, commit to having compassion for yourself without conditions. Know that you can recommit to that goal, or any other goal you have, whenever you need to and as many times as you need to. 

Compassion Mantra Exercise: 

To get started, create a “Compassion Mantra” by filling in the blanks, below. When are you finished, re-write your mantra on paper with a colorful pen to display on your desk, mirror, or any other place that you will see it daily. 

I am powerful and I have choices. 

I choose to have compassion for my thoughts, feelings and actions. 

Even though ______________________ (insert a negative/disempowering thought, feeling or action), I choose to have compassion for myself because ________________.

(Example: Even though I am not creating as much as I would like to and feel unproductive at times, I choose to have compassion for myself because I am honoring what feels good to me in the moment.)

Challenge yourself to write 5 more “even though” statements. When you are done, while smiling, read your mantra out loud to yourself. Change your mantra daily, weekly, monthly or whenever you choose to. 

Remember that challenging times will always provide you with choices. 

Choose compassion, for yourself and for others.