9 Steps For Growth And Healing
Apr 24, 2020
Wayne Dyer, one of my favorite motivational speakers, has said "It's not what happens to you, it's how you deal with it."
He also said "When you change the way you look at things, the things you look at change".
Now, more than ever, it's important to shift our focus and perspective.
Understanding that we will all have our moments of grief, sadness and stress throughout this journey, try to see how the gifts in these moments.
Use this opportunity to improve your life. For all those times we said there wasn’t enough time to do the things we’ve always wanted. This unexpected quarantine is giving us all a lot of things but the greatest gift is time. Some of us are reveling in this gift while others are steeped in anxiety and fear. No matter where you fall on this spectrum, the question to ask is how can we use this time for good, to renew and to come out of this stronger than before? In other words, how can we make this mandatory quarantine a voluntary healing staycation that uplifts us and adds meaning to our lives? Here are some things you can do to get through this time of self quarantine:
- Treat yourself to a scavenger hunt outside
Make a short list of 5-10 things you want to “discover” on your outdoor scavenger hunt. Not only will the fresh air rejuvenate you, but as your mind “looks” for these treasures, you will turn down those thoughts and emotions that lower your energetic vibration. Your list could include a yellow flower, a colorful rock, a bird, a leaning tree, and source of water. Maybe you’ll see a butterfly or a hummingbird, or maybe you’ll see a rainbow or ray of sunshine. Be open and give thanks. - Write a love letter to yourself
Have you ever written a love letter to yourself? This is an extremely empowering and heart-warming exercise that connects you with your strengths and your natural attributes that make you love-able. It may be helpful to take several deep breaths before beginning so you connect more deeply with your heart and soul. You can even play your favorite music to invite your soul to let the words flow more easily. Some people find this exercise easier if they imagine they are writing a letter to their younger self. To do this, imagine you are much older than you are today and you have created a life that is rich in relationship to others, rich in abundance and rich in a deep connection with yourself. What do you want yourself to know from this more experienced version of yourself? What should this younger self focus on right now? What strengths will this younger person develop over the next 10 or 15 years? This is a wonderful opportunity to visualize, imagine and create your future. As a bonus action, mail this letter to yourself and delight in the words when you receive it. - Write a forgiveness letter
This is a great time to release any emotions, doubts, fears or experiences from your past that keeps you from feeling safe, loved or worthy of what you desire. Incredibly freeing and healing, writing a forgiveness letter to someone who hurt you in the past can open the door to your heart! I’m not saying this will be easy, but I can assure you that if you are really ready to let go, to release this pain you are carrying, you will be immensely rewarded in ways you probably can’t grasp right now. Keep in mind, forgiveness is not about the other person or letting someone off the hook. This is about you wanting to be free of the pain from the past. This is about you wanting to live with an open heart ready and willing to receive love and joy. - Doodle, draw or write out the highest vision for your life
Use this extra time to play by drawing, painting or writing down the vision you hold for your future. You don’t need to be artistic at all but you will need your imagination and sense of curiosity! All that is required is your ability to dream and then release those dreams in a physical form like art. Don’t get hung up on the hows… just let the pen, pencil or paint brush flow. - Host a video conference with your friends and family
Everyone seems to be using online video chats to reconnect with family and friends. It's a great way to stay connected with those we love while also maintaining a safe physical distance! We just had a baby shower for my cousin and it turned out to be such a wonderful opportunity to connect. - Organize an area of your home
We all have that one room or section of our home that drives us a bit nutty. Whether that’s a closet full of clothes you haven’t worn since the late 90’s or outdated items in your kitchen drawers… the “stuff” weighs on you and it’s time to clear it out! You can also use this time to create your own sacred space with things you already have in your home. You don’t need an entire room to create a sacred space. All you need is a corner where you can set some items that comfort and uplift you. - Start a gratitude jar
If you want to bring in more of all you desire, a gratitude practice is the best place to start that shift! Looking for the many gifts in each day and taking note (literally) of those moments can bring about radical shifts in what appears in your life. Imagine waking up and savoring every breath and every small delight, like that hot cup of coffee, or the sunlight streaming through your window, or that warm shower. Appreciate all that you do have in this moment and see what happens. In the upcoming days when life is back in the swing of busyness, you can reflect upon all the gifts of this time. - Dance it out
Honestly one of my favs! Nothing will lift your energy faster than dancing it out in your living room! Play your favorite dance music and just let yourself move to the music. Movement moves energy in our bodies so this practice is particularly useful when you are feeling low or anxious. Close the blinds and pull the curtains if need be and dance your heart out. Don’t be surprised if you find a burst of energy that carries you through the rest of your day after dancing it out! - Learn something new
I love to learn! Yet, during “normal” day to day life, I often feel short on time. With these extra hours, I can’t help but explore new skills, and learn new techniques! I've committed to learning a new language this month and I practice a little bit each day. Is there something you’ve always wanted to learn but never had the time to pursue? Well, this is your chance to take up something new. There are a TON of free resources and tutorials online for almost anything you’ve ever wanted to learn – do a search on YouTube and you’ll see that you actually can use this time to gain new skills, to go deeper into yourself, and to hone your artistic abilities! Piano lessons anyone?
So try one of these 9 ways to use this time for growth, healing and expansion. In the meantime, wash your hands often, don’t touch your face, practice safe social distancing and smile. Life will resume and you might be surprised by what you’ll miss from this down time.
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