My job is to help people make sense of what they are experiencing, to uncover things that are causing discomfort and pain, and to shift thoughts, feelings and behaviours in order to enjoy a better experience.
So, the question I asked myself today is how do I do all that with this? Easy? Not!
We are experiencing Transitional Catalytic Events. Just as we are (almost) adjusting to the first one, we are now in the midst of a second.
The Makes Sense Part
Transitional Catalytic Events
A Transitional Catalytic Event is an occurrence that forces change. It is unforeseen, not our choice and not under our control, catching us unaware and unprepared. We have no choice but to transition from where we are to something else.
Appropriate Responses to a Transitional Catalytic Event If You are Human
Lay Low
Our natural instinct is to self-preserve. Do not feel bad about wanting to stay in and hitting the snooze button. It is important to soothe ourselves and to take necessary and recommended precautions for our own safety as well as for the safety of others.
Grieve
Being forced out of our comfort zones is traumatic. Some of us can roll easier than others, but the fact is the world as it used to be is gone! We will NEVER go back to the way we were. It is completely appropriate to experience grief. This is an important, necessary step in the process of moving to a better experience. Grief, when properly dealt with (Read more here:) lays the foundation for hope to return.
The What is Causing Our Pain Part
There is No Us Vs. Them
I truly believe that the root of all of our problems is fear. As we persist in pitting ourselves against an ‘enemy,’ we will stay stuck in fear. Fear prevents creative solutions.
The Virus is not our ‘enemy.’
“Other” people are not our ‘enemies.’
These are ‘problems’ we have created, therefore they are problems we can solve, together.
We must ask ourselves:
Why Do We Keep Creating Things That Can Kill Us?
Why Do We Perceive Others as Different and Separate?
How Can We Continue to Brutalize and Traumatize and Call Ourselves Civilized?
So, the question I asked myself today is how do I do all that with this? Easy? Not!
We are experiencing Transitional Catalytic Events. Just as we are (almost) adjusting to the first one, we are now in the midst of a second.
The Makes Sense Part
Transitional Catalytic Events
A Transitional Catalytic Event is an occurrence that forces change. It is unforeseen, not our choice and not under our control, catching us unaware and unprepared. We have no choice but to transition from where we are to something else.
Appropriate Responses to a Transitional Catalytic Event If You are Human
Lay Low
Our natural instinct is to self-preserve. Do not feel bad about wanting to stay in and hitting the snooze button. It is important to soothe ourselves and to take necessary and recommended precautions for our own safety as well as for the safety of others.
Grieve
Being forced out of our comfort zones is traumatic. Some of us can roll easier than others, but the fact is the world as it used to be is gone! We will NEVER go back to the way we were. It is completely appropriate to experience grief. This is an important, necessary step in the process of moving to a better experience. Grief, when properly dealt with (Read more here:) lays the foundation for hope to return.
The What is Causing Our Pain Part
There is No Us Vs. Them
I truly believe that the root of all of our problems is fear. As we persist in pitting ourselves against an ‘enemy,’ we will stay stuck in fear. Fear prevents creative solutions.
The Virus is not our ‘enemy.’
“Other” people are not our ‘enemies.’
These are ‘problems’ we have created, therefore they are problems we can solve, together.
We must ask ourselves:
Why Do We Keep Creating Things That Can Kill Us?
Why Do We Perceive Others as Different and Separate?
How Can We Continue to Brutalize and Traumatize and Call Ourselves Civilized?
The How Can We Shift Part
It Is Personal
In order to solve things in the larger world, where we may feel we have no control, we have to start in our personal world, where we do have control.
Do Your Inventory
In what ways are you living/behaving that is harmful to you physically, emotionally, or mentally?
Where are you ‘at odds’ with others?
If you can’t get along, find common ground, have peace in your own family, with your neighbours, with your co-workers, with people who ‘serve’ you, how can there possibly be harmony and peace in the larger world?
It would be lovely to have governments and leaders that set great examples and serve us in a manner we deserve and expect. It would be awesome if they were responsible and behaved admirably. But reality shows us that this currently is not the case.
The reality is, we must take responsibility for our own beliefs and behaviours. When we start acting in ways that are not harmful to ourselves and others, we can expect it/demand it from our leaders.
It Is Personal
In order to solve things in the larger world, where we may feel we have no control, we have to start in our personal world, where we do have control.
Do Your Inventory
In what ways are you living/behaving that is harmful to you physically, emotionally, or mentally?
Where are you ‘at odds’ with others?
If you can’t get along, find common ground, have peace in your own family, with your neighbours, with your co-workers, with people who ‘serve’ you, how can there possibly be harmony and peace in the larger world?
It would be lovely to have governments and leaders that set great examples and serve us in a manner we deserve and expect. It would be awesome if they were responsible and behaved admirably. But reality shows us that this currently is not the case.
The reality is, we must take responsibility for our own beliefs and behaviours. When we start acting in ways that are not harmful to ourselves and others, we can expect it/demand it from our leaders.
Email: coachjenniferwashington@gmail.com
Jennifer Washington
Certified Martha Beck Life Coach
What Now Life Coaching
www.whatnowlifecoaching.com
Facebook
Twitter
Pinterest
INSTAGRAM
Certified Martha Beck Life Coach
What Now Life Coaching
www.whatnowlifecoaching.com
RSS Feed
