Thriving at Home
"To all the compassionate servants that make this a better world. Along them, we all can thrive at home in our own way.” - Cintia H. Orsi
What does "thrive" mean to you? We are unique. It won't mean the same for everybody, right?
As I was writing this article, I attended (amazingly on the same day) two great webinars that deeply resonated with me and my coaching style and proposal. Thank you, Dr. Senka Holzer, for Research perspective: Shift in Value System – Shift in Well-Being at the WBECS full summit session, and thank you, Nermine Zakhary, for Playing to Your Strengths: Your Roadmap to Excellence & Personal Fulfillment at ICF Upstate New York's slate of programming for International Coaching Week 2020.
They have inspired me to think deeper about the actions and their impacts on people's lives of all that I witnessed during the covid-19 outbreak. Although "thrive" may have different meanings, the individuals who shared the sense of thriving are deeply rooted in their core values and play with their strengths.
Dr. Holzer proposed that too much focus on our acquired values (compared to core values) can decrease our well-being due to an expectation-reality gap. This is very timely with covid-19, considering the clash of expectation and reality we are living in right now. So, knowing that, what can be done to increase our well-being? And how?
Have you stopped to observe beautiful things happening around you? The positive outcomes of all that is happening with us. Reconnection, compassion, new learnings.
I invited myself to look around! Watch and listen to people reconnecting to their core values through their passions and strengths.
I present a glimpse of 9 ways we can witness how values, needs, and behaviors impact our well-being. Most likely, many of them will resonate with you. If not, are you ready to experiment with it yourself? Here is a challenge if you decide to accept it: from everything you read below, what is one thing (or more) that positively stands out to you and that you are willing to do it? Are you ready to take the first step knowing that all these had a favorable influence on people's lives? What if you also know that the more you work on a specific skill, the faster you master it?
1. Gift and cause together - to those who have the call to be there for others, a heartfelt thank you! - doctors, nurses, frontliners, teachers and educators in remote connection, bus drivers, food providers, essential workers. I know there are more roles, and I hope you feel included as well.
2. Serving the community - the power of the collective to support the local community - to all the groups and organizations that have been formed to provide food, shelter, well-being, mental health, and spiritual support, especially to the most vulnerable ones. For the Ithaca (NY) community, including Cornell and Ithaca College students, faculty, and staff, check it out for coaching: Ithaca Coach Collective. If you need support or are interested in supporting initiatives, Human Services Community digest will keep you up-to-date.
3. Helping in silence - all those who are there for the community, for the neighbor: making masks, donating, supporting the local business, providing pro bono and exchange of services, staying home, writing letters to vulnerable people, checking on neighbors, celebrating small things and praying.
“...people reconnect to their core values through their passions and strengths.”
4. Learning to be stewards of livings things - to all who are learning to appreciate the indoors and the outdoors in a different and more meaningful way, raising kids and pets, gardening, hiking, sheltering, cleaning, observing, running, biking, swimming, bird watching, caring for nature, an especial thanks!
5. Strengthening relationships - reconnecting with forgiveness, compassion, patience, genuinely opened to know the other. For parents and caregivers, a fantastic opportunity to teach and learn with the children and the elder that perhaps would not happen otherwise. For couples, a moment to know and love the other in a different extraordinary way. An opportunity for a unique growing together moment in family.
6. Becoming interior design master - we all have our way to organize our living space to feel safe and rest. It is interesting that while for some people, the home décor brings security and comfort, for others, the need to arrange allows them to become very good in interior design and organization. It is a DIY time. Also, an excellent metaphor for cleansing. Cleaning and organizing inside and out.
7. Self-challenging oneself in new skills - Skills that you would not dare try otherwise. This caught my attention the most, perhaps, because I envision it to be one of the top drivers to influence and inspire how we will do things after covid-19. I also hope that the reconnection with values on serving others will be remembered and a pillar for future changes in a sustainable way. Learning to play in the piano a song per day for 30 days, making sourdough starting from a fresh starter, baking and cooking like you never did before, playing with the kids many times a day, becoming a resourceful cook and also sharing that, learning to be a long-distance educator, networking, becoming a technology expert, learning new ways to socialize, gardening, learning how to cut hair, drawing, learn to play a new instrument. This list has no end.
8. Self-discovering and caring - It is interesting how you have time to self-reflect, arrange, and self-care by removing the automation of routine and potential distractions. Choosing to have time to care for yourself so you can be there for others, eating well, exercising, reading more, finding ways where your talents can help others. Here is a special thanks to Erick, my son, who helps me with the site and blog for his time, talent, and inspiration!
9. Appreciating life - finding pleasure in tiny little things by observing, giving, receiving, and sharing. The fragility of life has been revealed, and much we can do is to feel grateful for another day, the beautiful sunshine, the natural colors, sounds, and smells, for a smile given and a smile received, a nod, a wave of a hand. Knowing that all these simple things in life are gone for many, loved ones included, gives us another perspective and desire to live our lives fully.
From all that, I believe we can make a better world while being congruent with who we are and having the opportunity to contribute with the full spectrum of our gifts and strengths.
“Your strengths serve as your best opportunity for Excellence and Personal Fulfillment. Imagine where you could be if you applied your strengths every day!”
I invite you to take this time to know more about yourself. Can you identify at least three habits (new ones or next level) that will give you the most traction to continue experimenting with positive change in your life?
Coaching is a powerful ally to help you to get the awareness of how your values and beliefs are impacting your life, to experiment with new ways to apply your passions and strengths, and to develop new skills in creating and accessing resources you need to achieve and track your goals.
Have you discovered something new about yourself during this experience?
On a personal note, I am very grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with my family and friends in ways that, even if well-planned, would not happen if not for the covid-19 pandemic. Thank you, Lord, for allowing me to witness and appreciate this moment.
Gratefully,
