Two Steps to Happiness— Despite Corona

From my many conversations with patients this week, I’d say we’re all just a little freaked out. It’s a combination of the bad things that have already happened (stock market, layoffs, closings, increasing coronavirus cases) and the uncertainty about the bad things that could happen in the future. If you’re freaked, you have every excuse to be that way.

Last weekend, I went through some pretty dark moments myself. But I realized that a way out had to exist, a way to thrive and prosper despite the apparent collapse of the society around me (and not being able to find toilet paper).

Here’s what I came up with: I have to CREATE my way out of this situation. “Trying harder” and “keeping my nose to the grindstone” are pretty useless approaches to this problem. What’s needed is to look at the situation as it exists and see how I can create new opportunities and solutions. How can I help more people more effectively? How can I help them despite the limitations we’re living through right now?

By Monday afternoon, I had created enough answers to start feeling a little excited. I know it’s probably bad form to have any happiness right now, but thinking about how I can make a difference in my patient’s lives while they weather this crisis DOES make me happy! [Here is my plan that is making me happy]

I recommend that you look at your situation. Hunkering down and hiding isn’t going to work long-term. What can you CREATE in your life to improve your happiness? Answer this question, and you might be on your journey to come safely out of the other side of this disaster.

The First Things to Do:

1. Don’t do “nothing,” which is always the wrong thing to do.
2. Don’t try to keep your life the same as it was before.

Hey! Look around. You’ll have to make some adjustments, stop doing some of the things that you used to do, and change your priorities. Hiding, pretending that this all blowing over in the next few weeks; these are not going to help you.

Here’s a list of the changes I have made for my family. I recommend that you come up with your list and implement it.

The Second Things to Do

List out the things that could bite you, and CREATE (remember that word?) solutions to all of them.

Examples:

• Losing my job.
  • SOLUTION: Get fully informed of any assistance or insurance you are eligible for and work out how to live off this before it occurs (or quickly if it’s already happened).
  • Get inventive and create a new source of income that will work in the current society (the only way you can’t do this is if you are sure it’s impossible).
• Getting sick.
  • SOLUTION: Short term, find out how to boost your immune system in your specific case (there are generic answers to this, but they aren’t nearly as effective as tailoring a protocol to you). [Here is how]
  • Immediately implement personal policies to reduce your exposure [Here is my personal list].
  • Longer-term, get on an effective health improvement program. Healing and improving bodies respond entirely differently to stress and infection than one that’s plateaued or getting worse. [Here’s How]
• Being stressed.
  • SOLUTION: Create your program of self-improvement and stress reduction. This could be a great time to take an online course, write poetry, short stories, or a novel, or organize your family photos for posterity.
  • Physically, take walks, do yoga, stretch, but do this every day.

It’s kind of miraculous how just starting to move the needle on this whole messed-up situation will change your outlook for the better.

Let Me Know What You’re Doing

Leave a comment below, or email me at PatientServices@AlternativeHealthAtlanta.com and tell me what you have created and what you’re doing to overcome the stress and disruption to your life. I’ll publish the best ones as an inspiration to everyone.