Feeling lost and confused? It’s OK

Last Thursday a seasoned journalist reached out to me to contribute to a news story on “Quarantine: Month Three.”

Knowing I am an advocate for stepping back from your life to take a 30,000 foot view, she asked if I was willing to offer some insights on how readers might embrace change, create an action plan or discover new opportunities as a result of the pandemic.

I paused and slept on this idea. Then, I wrote her back the next morning and replied, “I’m sorry, but I can’t.”

While there may be a few of you who are bucking to create new businesses or launch creative projects as a result of this crisis, most of us are in survival mode and many are grieving from profound loss.

We’re feeling overwhelmed, uncertain and tired. We’re struggling to find a “sense of normalcy,” and have no idea what our future looks like. Others are not even sure they’ll be able to pay their June mortgage payment or send their recent graduates to college in the fall. Most of us are taking life day by day and sometimes, hour by hour.

What I would share about our current state is the reminder that it’s OK to feel confused, lost and have a lack of clarity or a plan. It’s OK to not feel wise or discerning.

That will come later. I promise.

For now, 1. focus on making your self-care a priority, 2. keep naming what IS working in your life and 3. seek daily heartfelt connection. I believe these are the three things that will help us the most as we continue to wade through the unknown. Together.

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.My primary work is 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 support your team now or in the future. Learn more here.
• Could you use a day-away focused on extreme self-care? Me, too! I’m exploring options for intimate, one-day retreats in beautiful natural settings (social distancing). Have a home or venue to offer in TX or 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 retreats.

Subscribe here to Live Inside Out, a weekly blog written by life balance author/speaker and self-care evangelist Renée Peterson Trudeau. Passionate about helping men and women find balance through the art/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.