Author: Valerie Grimes, CHt
Sometimes life is not pretty…
I love Polish sausage, but hear I don’t want to see how it is made. Why? Because sausage making is an ugly process, though so tasty when complete.
Watching my clients go through weight reduction programs is also difficult – and ugly to them- as they struggle against the resistance and plateaus. When they finally let go, the weight comes off and then there is the huge relief and a feeling of accomplishment.
March of 2020 will go down as an ugly month
Like the crash in 2008, 9/11 and the Great Depression, the coronavirus pandemic will come to be known as a painful and challenging time. But difficult experiences result in creativity and resilience.
Brilliant ideas are born from necessity. Think about how your grandmother didn’t allow you to waste anything. The depression era mentality led to a generation of incredibly resourceful people. I didn’t understand why my grandmother had a container with bent nails, but she told us the nails, “are still good, just need a little straightening out.” Maybe she was trying to teach through that metaphor.
Tough times lead to new opportunities
It is time to act like one of those grandmothers, to return to that resourcefulness. Troublesome situations provide opportunities to make changes because your conscious mind is already thrown off. When this happens, new ideas and patterns can easily enter and take root in the subconscious mind.
Think about how worry works. When afraid, we are in a “fight or flight” mode. Then, if presented with more fearful news, we develop a pattern of worry. We don’t consciously decide to do so, it just happens. Why not take advantage of that phenomenon? This time is ideal to think up new ideas that are good for you, your business, and the world in which we live.
Make positive changes
While hunkered down at home due to the coronavirus, why try to develop positive new habits? Below are ideas that may lead you to feel empowered during this chaotic time.
• Use filtered water with a reusable bottle instead of prepackaged bottled water
We can affect global warming only if we all work to decrease waste long-term.
• Eat when truly hungry and not in response to emotions
Deal with your stress instead of eating to feel better…which usually has the opposite effect. Practice deep breathing, meditate or take a walk outside.
• Plan and cook nutritious meals in advance. Limit how often you order in.
It is difficult to make good food choices if healthy options are not available to you. Many of us wait until we are hungry to think about meals which lead to poor decisions.
• Grow your own vegetables
Maintain control over what you eat. You don’t need a large piece of land; with proper care, vegetables grow well even in pots.
• Eat edibles from your yard such as dandelions
Many Americans use herbicides such as Round-up which can be harmful to your health.
• Not sure what to substitute for TP, but think 1950s diaper washing (sorry).
Your grandmothers will smile down at you as you strive to develop habits that help improve the world and save money at the same time. And remember to be kind to each other. We are all in this together.
These are my thoughts; please add yours in the comment section below.
Valerie Grimes, CHt Clinical Hypnotist
Valerie is a master at helping people overcome their negative belief systems, false opinions, and self-defeating habits that reside in their subconscious mind. Those blocks consistently sabotage people’s relationships, health, and opportunities for success in business and other important realms of their lives. She is a 2002 graduate of the Dallas Hypnosis Training Institute, and certified by the American Council of Hypnotist Examiners, and founder of The Flow Center in Dallas. Previously she was the president of Alexander/Scot, Inc., a business-to-business advertising agency based in Dallas. She is also the author of Licking Honey Off A Razorblade, a book about alcohol dependency and how to overcome it with hypnosis. She is a Dallas native, mother of two, grandmother of four boys. She also homesteads a small lot in Princeton, TX.
image source: Elijah Hiett from unsplash.com
