#227 Those Who Adapt, Survive

It is safe to say that most of us are probably feeling exhausted. We have pandemic fatigue! It is impacting our mood, work, and families in unconscious but significant ways. Today’s topic really shines some light on how we may strengthen some of our coping abilities and move forwards towards thriving. In today’s episode, Leslie and Leslyn explain some of the major reactions to stress during the pandemic and the costs that come along with it. They also discuss learning how to stop fear from preventing growth and ultimately thriving through adaptation!

In today’s episode, Leslie and Leslyn start by discuss Leslyn’s birthday plans for a milestone birthday. Leslyn shares that it is not going as originally planned, she was planning on going to Italy and being surrounded by loved ones. With the pandemic in full swing, her plans have had to change and Leslyn has adapted to an Italian night at home!

With the pandemic, Leslyn shares that many seem to be concerned with their drinking and she wonders if it is a subconscious reaction to all of the stress that we are feeling right now. There is an elevated understanding that we are stressed during this time and when we correlate our stress with alcohol we get concerned.

There are so many unknowns in the world today. The country has been left questioning many things, but the most important questions right now are surrounding children and whether they should be going back to school. In these times, we are faced with stressors and fears in our personal health but now the added stress of children’s education and safety are coming to the main stage.

Leslie shares her discomfort in sending her children back because her school district is not mandating mask wearing for children. Leslyn adds that she has many clients who are teachers and are worried about the risk they will be bringing home to their loved ones. There is also the fears of immunocompromised teachers and children and if they should be back in school. There are worried for parents on how they will juggle e-learning if they do decide to not send their children back. This also has the worries of parents who do not even have the option for their children to do e-learning as they may be essential workers.

The fears of the educational impacts that the pandemic will have on children’s learning and if that will cause children to be held back is also a great concern. Leslyn believes that the part for her that is so challenging about this is that there is no answer that solves all the problems that have arose. If you send children back to school, you are putting lives in danger but if you do not send children back to school you are putting people’s livelihoods in danger. Leslyn says that we are back to the topic discussed last week on the human cost that the virus has brought to everyday life.

With all of these changes it is important to understand what thriving looks like in this new reality. Thriving is not going to look like what it used to. We must learn to adapt. Adaptation does not mean that you are going to sit around and wait for how things used to be. Instead, adaptation takes a set of circumstances and decides where to go from there to get where you want to be. It’s like learning how to take lemons and make lemonade.

Leslyn continues that if we want to talk about thriving, we have to lean into our fears. There are so many conversations right now in Leslyn’s practice that revolve around fear. Franklin Roosevelt said, “There is nothing to fear except for fear itself.” Fear prevents us from moving and if we are not moving, we are not growing.

Our new normal is not going to look the way that we thought it would look but it is going to be okay. We work with the best that we have and adapt to the circumstances. Every part our our life right now cannot be based on what we have done or did. It has to be based on the current conditions that we are facing. This week’s try this at home is to really consider what you need to do to stop waiting for things to go “back to normal” and then adapt your life to thrive!

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Next Week’s Episode: Building Resilience

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Links to Look At:

Episode 226: Cancel Culture

[https://www.trythisathomepodcast.com/podcasts-1/2020/7/28/226-cancel-culture]

Episode 32: Facing Fear

[https://www.trythisathomepodcast.com/podcasts-1/2019/8/29/1]

The Martian | Movie Trailer

[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ej3ioOneTy8]