 In current times life is full of fear and uncertainty. You may not know when things will get back to normal, whether you’ll get your job back when businesses start opening back up, or if you’ll stay healthy for the remainder of the year. It can be straightforward to lose hope, but that’s perhaps the most essential thing you can hold onto during this crisis. So, let’s talk about why that is. The Belief that Things Will Get Better After so many months in lockdown during this pandemic, it’s easy to believe that things will never get better. You may assume that if things were going to get better, they would’ve by now. By holding onto hope, you can hold onto the belief that things will get better in time. Think about the worst thing that’s ever happened in your life that you thought you’d never survive. You did stay, and now you know that even the most traumatic events in your life will turn around eventually. Hold onto hope and trust that something better is coming in the future. Constant Optimism Holding onto hope doesn’t necessarily mean that you don’t see the world for how it truly is. You’re not turning a blind eye to the problems in today’s society and acting as if they don’t exist…. because you know that they do. Instead, hope involves recognizing the negatives that are happening but understanding that every situation also comes with positives. Having a positive outlook on every situation can help you to naturally improve your mood and find happiness and joy in even the worst cases. “Fake It Till You Make It” If you’re like just about everyone else in America, you’re afraid of what may happen today, a week from now, or even a year from now. This can be draining for the average person in the mental and emotional sense, unsure of what the future holds. Most people who hold onto hope can implement the idea known as “fake it till you make it.” This is a theory that states that acting as if something is true will eventually make it true. You may remind yourself that you’re happy, that things will get better, and that you’ll survive this. The Spread of Hope The great thing about hope is that it tends to be contagious. Just by remaining hopeful around your family members or friends, it might start rubbing off on them. This can help to improve the mood and the outlook of those around you. On the other hand, helping those around you can also end up helping you in the long run. If you happen to lose hope temporarily, it may just be those you’ve built up that come to bring you back up with them. It’s all about creating a positive support system in your circle. Not Letting Fear Consume You Have you ever felt extreme fear about something in your life? If so, then there’s a chance that you experienced racing thoughts and extreme anxiety wondering what might happen. That’s precisely how many people are feeling in the current environment. The thing about hope is that it somewhat reverses your fears. So instead of having every single thought in your mind focused on your worries and recent events, you can return your ideas to other things in your life. Less focus on fear can help you to focus on the good stuff. Watch this Video Finding PEACE in Christ Hope is necessary if you want to make it through the current pandemic and state of the world with your mental health intact. To maintain hope and preserve your mental health, it’s a great idea to stay positive, surround yourself with good people, and limit your fears. You deserve to feel better. Life coaching is a process of self-discovery that helps you identify your values and goals, create achievable plans for change, and take the necessary steps to make those changes happen. It’s an investment in yourself—in your mental health and well-being. Let me help you find hope again with life coaching sessions tailored specifically for you! I will work with you one on one or in groups to provide support, encouragement, guidance, and accountability. Together we can get through this difficult time with hope and peace! Click the box below to schedule a free consultation today! Book features this week:
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 According to the Washington Post, “Nearly half of Americans report the coronavirus crisis is harming their mental health, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation poll. A federal emergency hotline for people in emotional distress registered a more than 1,000 percent increase in April compared with the same time last year. Last month, roughly 20,000 people texted that hotline, run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.” It’s terrifying to realize a pandemic such as a coronavirus (COVID-19) is spreading worldwide. The different stages of a pandemic can provide panic and anxiety. No one knows just how widespread or deadly the novel coronavirus will end up being. Feelings of fear, anxiety, sadness, and uncertainty are normal emotions during a difficult situation such as the world is currently experiencing. But being proactive about your mental health can help to keep your mind and body healthy. In the following information, we have detailed information on ways to protect yourself. One of the first steps you can take is to recognize the things you can control. You are practicing self-care, such as seeking professional help from a licensed mental health professional and finding ways to manage stress. Your means of coping with stress and anxiety go a long way in managing your mental health. Here are some ways to help you ease the tension surrounding COVID-19. Practice Good Self-Care Eating a healthy diet, getting enough sleep, and engaging in some form of exercise are always reasonable steps to helping you stay as physically and psychologically fit as possible during stressful times. Good self-care also keeps your immune system healthy, which means eating well, sleeping well, and managing stress. Piece Of Mind Practice recommendations from the Centers For Disease Control, The World Health Organization, and other excerpts to curtail transmission of Covid include wearing a mask when going out, keeping at least a 6-foot distance from others, and washing your hands regularly. If you live in an area where the Covid infection rates are very high, try to stay home as much as possible, and when do you go out to practice the methods of safety detailed above. There are always steps you can take to decrease risk. Be aware that steps like washing your hands, wearing a mask, and keeping social distance remind you to focus on the things you can control. Knowing you are doing everything possible to keep yourself and your family safe gives a lot of peace of mind. Professional Help If your mental health is being affected by the stress and anxiety of COVID-19, you may need to seek the help of mental health professional. A licensed mental health professional can help you manage stress while allowing you to make the best decisions for yourself and your family. The good news is thousands of therapists are now using remote methods, such as video conferencing, so you can talk to someone right from home. High anxiety and stress can cause some people to adopt unproven or unsafe prevention methods. Some of these methods can be harmful to yourself and others. It’s essential to make sure any actions you take are genuinely beneficial. Develop An Action Plan Be aware that increased depression and anxiety are probably going to occur. So, plan for it. When you start to feel sad, overwhelmed, frustrated, or anxious, talk with someone, write about it, just get it out, do not let it fester inside of you. Be prepared and make a plan. Who will I talk to? Keep a notebook handy for journaling. Another critical issue is that children often adopt the coping strategies they observe in their parents. Parents who show anxiety and stress during a pandemic may end up projecting the fear right along to their loved ones. Read News From Trustworthy Sources And Limit Media Consumption Avoid media outlets that provoke stress or focus on issues that we can’t control. Instead, turn to sources that give reliable information. One reputable source is the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). They provide helpful tips to keep you and your family safe during these unprecedented times. Watching media stories about how fast an illness is spreading or the death toll will increase stress and anxiety. Limit your media consumption to a specific time frame or a certain number of stories. It is helpful to stay informed, but you shouldn't allow yourself to be bombarded with anxiety-provoking news all day. The most important actions are to keep you and your loved ones as adequately informed, calm, and healthy as possible. Watch this Video COVID and PTSD Remember one thing, and humans are strong; we will get through this. It is not forever, and most importantly, do not project what has not yet happened. If you are healthy and safe, don’t worry about what might happen, stay in the moment, and enjoy the present. Have you been feeling like your life is spiraling out of control? It’s not uncommon for people to feel this way, especially through a difficult time just like now with COVID around. But it doesn’t have to be that way. There are ways to protect yourself against the mental trauma that it brings and get back on track again. You deserve happiness and peace of mind in your life, so don't wait any longer! Contact me today to learn how I can help you find balance and stability in your life. I will work with you one-on-one or as part of a group setting to create an individualized plan tailored just for you! Click the box for free consultation! Book features this week:
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 Do not touch your face! Wash your hands if you do! Wash your hands if you don't! Don't forget to use hand sanitizer as often as possible! By this point, your nerves are frayed, and your hands chapped from all the handwashing and sanitizing. It has been a lot. Of course, that's nothing compared to those who have fallen ill, passed away, or 'recovered' with lasting effects. The two are related; we are confident we can prevent the last thing from occurring by doing the first things. It's undoubtedly an excellent way to mitigate the risk. The kids are at home, with many schools yet to return. A lot of people are working from home or laid off. We aren't meeting our friends and family in person. For a time, we wiped out the grocery shelves, and people were spending an hour in line in hopes of fulfilling their list. Life has changed in a series of big and small ways due to COVID-19. The only highlight of this is that everyone else is going through it, too. We are all going through this same tumultuous event, and we're all in it together. At least, we should be. There is nothing funny about a pandemic, but it's essential to stay grounded. As difficult as it seems, it's necessary to accept reality and not catastrophize about what hasn't yet happened. We all cope differently with horrible situations, and we all struggle with our locus of control. The Acceptance of Reality There are things you can do to wield control in this situation. Focus on those things to reduce your risk. Firstly, it's essential that you sleep well, eat well, and move often. Those are the basics of life that stand true in standard times and during a pandemic. It's also essential that you pay attention to social distancing. If you're allowed to have contact with others, then do so, but do it safely. That means wearing a mask, handwashing, and sanitizing often. A skosh of anxiety can be productive if it's causing you to take proper precautions to prevent the spread of the virus. If we didn't have a level of reasonable worry, then no one would take the appropriate measures to protect themselves and others. There is unproductive anxiety, too. Where you allow it to spin out of control by imagining what would happen if you caught it, or your child caught it, or someone you know caught it. It's happened to other people, so it's not ridiculous to imagine that someone close to you could see a highly contagious disease. You can counteract thoughts like that by focusing on the present. Remind yourself you are safe at home as you cook dinner, snuggle with your partner, play with your kids, or complete your workday. You can think about it all day, but it won't change anything, and it won't make you feel better. Staying Sane What began as a tragic story on the news has become a genuine threat to our world? In all likelihood, you know someone who COVID-19. If not, you have touched. By staying grounded, you are not minimizing the pandemic or sticking your head in the sand. You are simply taking the necessary steps to protect your mental health and stay sane. Think of all the efforts you have been taking to protect your physical health. Now think about what steps you have taken to protect your emotional and mental health? With that in mind, what are you going to do to ensure you stay grounded by accepting the reality of the pandemic while avoiding worrying about things that have not happened? Watch this Video 5 Reasons Why You Need to Stay Socially Connected While Being Physically Distant Because of COVID-19 If you are finding it difficult to accept everything amidst COVID, reach out for help! Let me help you get back on track and find peace again. We will work together to create goals for your future, identify what's important to you now, and come up with solutions for how to make those things happen. I am here for you every step of the way so that no matter what happens next, you'll be ready! Click the box below and let's get started... Book features this week:
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