The Possibility Coaches

The two of us always share with clients that to create change, you must be open to receiving it.

Lessons Learned from the Pandemic — Life Lessons

What’s interesting about the last two years is that it felt like great change came upon the world in a way that seemed so sudden and without warning.

Yet for most of us, the last few years have demonstrated not only how adaptable to change we really are; they also showed us how resilient we are, too.

What seemed like a time of great challenge for many became an opportunity for new adventures for others. For the two of us, the pandemic became a time to really slow down, to enjoy the time, and ultimately make the most of what we already have and be grateful for it.

We optimistically feel that the future is brighter because of the lessons we received from the pandemic. We call these lessons takeaways. Here are the takeaways the two of us received from lock-downs, face masks and vaccines.

Takeaway #1: we will never underestimate the importance of downtime ever again. Our downtime was used to inspire our creativity by cultivating new interests and building on old ones. For us it was cooking every day, filling our home with house plants, coloring, painting, gardening, lots of reading, and of course, coaching.

Takeaway #2: we learned how adaptable to change we can be no matter what the outcome may look like. Though at times it can be difficult to accept; change is constant and inevitable. The sooner we all accept this fact the quicker we reduce our levels of stress, worry, and anxiety. Accepting change is also about making the most of what we have and making the best with any specific challenges we may be facing in the moment. Adapting to change is also accomplished by opening ourselves up to reinventing some aspect of ourselves either professionally or personally. For the two of us, it was about connecting with clients exclusively on Zoom, rather than in person, individually or in the workshop/classroom settings. We’re both so grateful for technology because it allows us to continue to share our wisdom with all of you.

Takeaway #3: we also learned to have more gratitude and a greater appreciation for our health. Every day that we opened our eyes was a gift!

Takeaway #4: just when we thought we knew each other and ourselves, the pandemic showed us otherwise. Being human and enjoying life is always a work in progress. No one really makes it because there’s no it. There’s only the joy of living. That’s the singular goal we all want to have. During the pandemic, we realized that the joy of living IS the one and only true joy. And that joy is in the simple things in life. It is those simple things that assisted the two of us to know ourselves better and appreciate our individuality.

The simple things we have found to have the most lasting, profound, healthy effects on us are: meditating, journaling, exercising the body, and creating good communication channels between us and those we love. The result was the realization that it is the simple things in life that are important, and it is only those things that can give us true happiness. For truth be said: happiness is an inside job, and that was confirmed and reaffirmed for the two of us by the pandemic.

We would love to hear from you about any takeaways from the pandemic that have changed your life in a positive way. Sharing experiences is a great way to assist others to move forward even when options may seem limited. Contact us here.

Jon Satin and Chris Pattay – The Possibility Coaches™
©2021 Possibility Coaches, LLC

Many years ago, a wise woman said to the two of us, “Take your cues from nature.”

By taking our cues from nature, we acknowledge and recognize the flow of life that exists in all of Life, which includes each of us.

Every living thing experiences a cycle of change. There are periods of expansion and periods of contraction. There is no exception to this rule: it is Universal Law.

The four seasons are nature’s way of mirroring back to each of us the flow of Life and how it operates effortlessly.

In Autumn, we give thanks and express gratitude and appreciation for abundance. By taking our cues from nature, we can also acknowledge and recognize our own personal flow and expansion.

We each expand and grow; not only physically, but intellectually and spiritually. The results we receive in life are our own personal harvest. What we reap is determined by what we sow. As humans, we have the great capacity to create different harvests if we do not like the one we previously reaped.

The smaller cycles of our individual lifetimes are broken down into smaller denominations or time periods: decades, years, months, weeks, days, hours, minutes, seconds. Within these cycles are periods of expansion and periods of contraction too. Expansion is growth, creativity, and productivity. Contraction is slowing down, looking inward and rest.

As the nights of October grow longer, it is a cue from nature that we, too, are part of nature and want to respond to the changes in the cycle of Life.

As winter approaches and it appears that all is silent and still, know that nurturing is going on throughout the natural world in preparation for the next cycle of expansion that will occur in the Spring.

Our lifetimes are our Summertime when we each create and manifest countless experiences, situations, and relationships. It is the time of growth. It is the time for your personal growth!

Autumn begins a period of contraction. Much of life appears to be going to sleep; it is now entering a period of apparent dormancy. However, beneath the surface of the seemingly quiet: life continues, resting and replenishing itself for the next cycle of expansion.

Like all of Life, we also require rest. We each experience this daily with a good night’s sleep. On a larger scale, the calendar indicates we may require more rest to replenish ourselves so we can produce a variety of abundant outcomes in our own lives.

Some of the most beneficial and efficient ways to rest, replenish and re-vitalize is through the process of self-care. Self-care is not something you practice seasonally; it is an avocation you want to master on a regular basis to keep your energy levels at peak performance year-round.

Self-care is about nurturing ourselves. How you demonstrate it is up to you. The “how” is unimportant. What IS important, is that you do it.

Here are some suggestions on how to nurture yourself more and provide re-vitalization to yourself at all levels of your Being:

1. Schedule “me” time. You might have to “pencil yourself in” to your daily schedule. This is essential year-round and particularly so during the upcoming holiday season when we tend to sacrifice our own well-being and desires to please everyone else. “Me” time can be anything from exercising, reading, meditating, or enjoying a hobby. Do not confuse self-care for selfishness. They are not the same thing!

2. Consider focusing on “doing” less. When we put too much on our plates, we usually ignore ourselves, deplete our energy and make ourselves sick in a variety of ways: physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.

3. Learn to say “No” and perhaps delegate more. Focus on the important, not the trivial. This is called: prioritizing.

4. Sleep more. Longer nights provide an opportunity for more sleep. The animal kingdom hibernates and for a very good reason: it knows it is time to rest in preparation for the next cycle of growth and expansion.

By adopting a “taking my cues from nature” approach for living your life, you will witness tremendous benefits. The four seasons are the perfect reminder that all of Life, be it as infinite as the Universe or as minute as an insect, experiences expansion, creativity, and growth, as well as contraction, rest, and dormancy.

By learning to personalize this process you will experience more flow in your life. This will place you in a higher, more vibrant level of Being thus resulting in a more fulfilling and enjoyable life experience.

Light a candle and nurture yourself. Take a deep breath in and blow it out. By doing so you have demonstrated how you are taking your cues from nature. The breath is the greatest demonstration of expansion and contraction. Now, be open to this same process in all the other areas of your life.

One way of providing yourself with the ultimate self-care regimen is to contact us for your complementary coaching session.

Another way is to join our monthly Zoom Book Club called Infinite Possibilities? You can join any time. It is held the second Thursday of each month. You are invited to join in on the conversation whether you’ve read the book of not! Learn more here.

The Possibility Coaches

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Takeaways from the Pandemic

The Seasons of Life | self-care

Success and Transformational Coaches