Listen Now

We are in crisis overload. I feel the pressure of so much bad news wanting to weight down my psyche and make me depressed. I find myself taking responsibility in a way as though I could cure the issues. We have to distance ourselves at times and work on nurturing our bodies and souls. We will survive this and we can make the journey more nourishing. 

As we face so many trials, we have to build our resilience in so many ways. We have to be physically healthy and optimize our immune systems. We need to find balance to our stresses to preserve mental health and optimism. We have to find a path into the future that gives us hope and forges our purpose for being here. 

The Universe is in flux and so is our daily life. Our cells die and are replaced every day. Life around us now seems extremely chaotic and uncertain. The changes seem unpredictable. We need our own program of change to keep our ship sailing. The right behaviors help us develop strength in times of uncertainty. 

Presidents have responsibility for the wellbeing of a nation. They muster the resources available to save as many people, businesses, and institutions as possible. Escaping from wars, economic crisis, and health crisis' are all on the table for a President. What happens when he dies in his failure to execute his duties? What happens when he becomes a victim of his own recklessness? What happens to us, the figurative children of this figurative leader?

Surviving is one thing and thriving is life at a much higher level. Self-actualization is Maslow's idea of reaching fulfillment but each of us wants more meaning in life. What are we willing to risk to get it. Change entails uncertainty and risk. Finding who we are requires continuously challenging ourselves. How much meaning do we want in our lives?

We often make seeking happiness too complicated. We can successfully pursue happiness under most circumstances. The pandemic doesn't have to limit this pursuit. Nature has certain behaviors in mind for which she gives us our ultimate goal, living with happiness.

Our personality is formed by the age of 14, say psychologists, because by that time we have formed our world view. Our personalities are being challenged right now because so many fundamental and structural changes are occurring, How are our personalities serving us now and are we adapting and helping others move forward? Will all the changes change our world view? Are we getting kinder or more self-serving?

Flow is a state of peak learning, creativity, performance, and bliss. Who wouldn't want more? We can get flow into our lives on a daily basis. We can live for flow as many do and it is not a selfish nor bad thing. It is giving the best of who we are. 

We are making a lot of decisions these days based on our new circumstances created by a lot of chaos. Are we having trouble finding our moral compass? Are we having difficulty maintaining our physical and mental health? Has our perspective changed about how we feel about life?  Our answers effect what we become.

Happiness has taken on new meaning as the curve of our lives has been bent. Now happiness might be simpler because we have fewer options but then maybe they are the options we should have considered all along. We have often spent time chasing the wrong dreams. Happiness now is simpler but perhaps more meaningful than ever in the past.

Our Constitution was created with a major goal of perpetuating a system that supported a majority of the people. You never make everyone happy. The only thing that really subverts the intention of the Constitution is invalidating the will of the people by not honoring their votes. 

Everyone is facing risks. Risks cause stress and we have things and people to blame. Sometimes we are angry at our institutions. It is important we don't let the anger dominate our psyches and have important counter measures to make our lives seem worthwhile and rewarding. 

We are all in this together and mostly going through the same emotional reflections. Life is not the same as last year and may not be the same next year. We are arriving at new norms for happiness based upon our options. We have to get through the 5 stages of grief to arrive at our acceptance of the new reality. 

There are rules for living and doing business amongst each other. It seems, however, that the population is divided on the rules. How do we exist if members of a team has different playbooks?  We are at so many crossroads for how we continue to thrive on this planet and within our societies. Why don't we look at ourselves to see where we stand. 

We are in the middle of some earth shaking crisis. Some are short term and some are long term. Each could totally change the world we expect to live in. We have to adapt to not only a few issue but to changes that turn our expectations upside down. This is a time we have to evaluate who we are and what we stand for and try to hold on to our principals and dreams as we ride through major storms.

This is a great time to contemplate the big picture since everything in the picture seems to be changing. What would be the big goal that would unify all our thoughts and actions? Now might be a great time to decide what we are doing that is meaningful and if we want to change our direction. 

There are many forces acting on us that are out of our control even if we have been indirectly responsible for causing them. The truth is we are suffering universally and the solutions have to be universal solutions. This is not the time to decide who deserves to survive but should be a time we come together to be sure we all survive.

Up until recently there has been a strong drive to improve our financial well being and demonstrate it with status symbols or sharing our new possessions. Now we don't see people that much and things rarely impress anymore. What is really important is seeing people in person and creating deeper relationships. We learn that life is fleeting and being a member of a tribe or social circle is the most precious possession. 

Everything is in flux. Most future occurrences are uncertain. We might wonder where are the rocks in our life we can lean on? We have them and our emphasis is changing to maintain the balance we need for mental health and happiness. 

We face obstacles in our daily lives and perhaps in our lives ambitions. What gets the most successful people through all the obstacles to the enjoyment of their achievement? Two good friends to have on the journey are spirituality and resilience. They are a belief that one belongs in the world and a spirit of persistence.