I shared this on my social media several weeks ago, prior to the COVID-19 situation. It applied then. It applies now. It applies all ways.
The last few days were challenging for me because I worked my first trip (as a flight attendant) since this began. It brought up so many emotions. I made it back home safely, which I was visualizing and affirming the entire time. The days prior to leaving on my trip I was mostly positive and productive. The experience of working and traveling during this situation brought up many emotions for me. Today I woke up feeling unsettled, so these things are what I have been focusing on today.
When we are happy, we smile. It is an innate, natural behavior since birth. When we are anxious, nervous or scared, we start breathing with more rapid and shallow breaths. When we are calm and relaxed our breath is slow and full. Just as our emotions impact our breath, our breath impacts our emotions. Almost always it is because we are thinking about something in the future, not something that is happening in this exact moment. Smiling and breathing can help us focus on just the task at hand. Staying calm allows us to be able to handle our current experience with more clarity.
Today I am smiling to myself as I move through my day. When any unwanted emotion or thought comes up, I pause and take a few slow deep breaths. Today I am choosing simpler tasks, such as yard work and tidying my home. These are tasks that are easier to stay focused on.
Our best changes every day. Sometimes moment by moment. Whatever you do today, just be and do your best, and that is more than enough!
