Dear ____________,
I know that you were discouraged yesterday.
There is no doubt this is a time when so many of our daily habits have changed by necessity. Most of us aren’t that thrilled with change on a good day – especially when it forces us to change routines with people we love.
Here’s a question to consider: Are you spending more time voicing the can’ts than figuring out new ways to say you can?
You can’t see friends the same way, but what can you do to see them? Zoom isn’t your only option.
What can you do that might be something a little out of your comfort zone?
It’s time to dig into your memory and remember those who have supported you in the past. Close your eyes and start to remember all the wonderful people who have expressed kindness, encouraged you, spent time, gone out of their way, observed a strength you never knew you had, or shared their love in some unique way.
Let yourself be filled with all of that love for a moment, then call up your gratitude and love for them.
Take another step and make a list to tell them what it meant- either on the phone or in a letter. You may think they know, but you can’t be sure of that. When you share your love and gratitude, you raise your own positive energy.
Finally, remember that the purpose of the news is to cause an anxiety reaction. We all have friends on different sides of certain issues. The prevailing tenor of the rhetoric is to make us assume the worst of the other side, so much so that we can no longer even mention a different point of view because we have been told how vile it is.
Think about how you want to be – and if it comes down on the side of being loving, then remind yourself of what being loving looks like and perhaps its time to turn off the news for a while.
Finally, take a good look at what you have accomplished. If your brain is in rebellion and you can’t think of a thing, take a moment to remember a few recent compliments.
We are trained to ignore or discount these statements of affirmation by friends or colleagues, but they are verbal love notes to remind us of our own goodness. Take them in and savor them. You don’t have to tell the world, just take it in and believe.
Someone once told you that you were a survivor. I would propose to you that you are a thrive and nothing less will do.
So, now, go and thrive.
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