Feeling dazed and confused? That’s perfectly Ok!
The evening of March 12th my son and I were in a bad car accident. The next morning Austin, TX announced a lockdown, my senior in high school turned 18 and all of my 2020 US keynotes and speaking engagements were paused due to the coronavirus (I make my living as a speaker).
Since then I’ve been on the same emotional rollercoaster as many of you: experiencing waves of sadness, moments of fear and anxiety, grief from so much loss and feelings of uncertainty and at times, utter despair. And—as many things are true at once—I’ve also experienced stretches of buoyancy, hope, excitement and promise when I envision the collective transformation that is possible from all of this upheaval. (I truly believe these global events are happening “for us” and not “to us.”)
If you’re feeling lost and confused, please know you’re not alone. Given what we’ve all been going through individually and as a whole, it’s understandable that many of us can only manage life one day at a time (or in some cases—hour by hour). Here are four reminders that are grounding me as I make my way through the fog.
- Whatever you’re feeling is OK. We have to feel to heal (read more). There’s no doubt, it’s a hard time to be a human.
- We need a lot of time and space to digest these epic events. Doing less, building in more time for rest and contemplation are essential to us as we tune in to “What is uniquely mine to do?”
- If there was ever a time for self-care this is it. I have been teaching self-care for 20 years, but in our current times, I believe these three strategies are most essential: read more.
- Take advantage of this precious time-don’t waste it. Use this window of the unknown to fortify your inner life. Be mindful about what you watch, read and take in. Talk to trusted friends. Make spiritual renewal a priority. Take a personal retreat.
For almost 14 years I was a career strategist and business coach. This morning I woke up wondering what Renee the coach would say to me now as I walk through this murky underground. I believe she’d want me to hear that when I let go, trust and allow (rather than force), things always work out for my highest. I bet she’d remind me that being is just as important as doing-particularly when you’re wondering, “What’s next?” And she’d probably recommend I devote a day to sitting with my Wise Self to hear what I most need to hear and say, “The clarity and call to action will come. All in good time.” (See below for more on my July date with myself + you!)
“If you let cloudy water settle, it will become clear. If you let your upset mind settle, your course will also become clear.” — Buddha
SEEKING SUPPORT FOR YOURSELF OR YOUR TEAM? HERE ARE TWO OPPORTUNITIES:
- Consider hiring me to create a workshop to help your team, organization or employees feel less stressed and more resilient, energized and focused. For 20+ years I’ve been speaking to professionals worldwide on how to find balance through practicing the art/science of self-care. Whether it’s an in-person workshop, keynote or via a Zoom session, I’d love to discuss how I can support your organization. Learn more here.
- Could you use a day-away focused on rest and renewal? I’d love to support you. I’m exploring facilitating a one-day retreat for 10 women in a beautiful natural hill country setting (social distancing) in July. Interested in getting a pre-invite? Email info at reneetrudeau dot com with the subject: “YES! Summer self-renewal retreats!” to be added to our inner circle list. Learn more about all our retreats.
Subscribe here to Live Inside Out, a weekly blog written by balanced living author/speaker and self-care evangelist Renée Peterson Trudeau. Passionate about helping men and women find balance through the art and science of self-care, her work has appeared in The New York Times, Good Housekeeping, US News & World Report, Spirituality & Health and more. She and her team have certified more than 400 facilitators in 10 countries around the globe to lead self-renewal groups and women’s retreats based on her work. She’s the author of two books on life balance including the award-winning The Mother’s Guide to Self-Renewal. She lives in Austin, Texas, with her husband and 18-year-old son. More on Renee here.
