Cindy Glass, Owner and Co-founder of Step Up Education Centres, believes that it is not enough to just survive the life that we are living!
It is not enough to live in fear of contracting THE Virus. “Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could focus on the wellbeing of ourselves and our families and do this despite the challenges that everyday life may present to us? Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could increase the quality of our physical and mental health, experience happiness and fulfilment and THRIVE, despite the threat of coronavirus? Of course it would!”
“The reality is that our lives can feel out-of-control, frustrating and miserable at times. This is unavoidable. But the good news is that small changes can lead to greater opportunities of experiencing personal wellbeing, happiness and fulfilment,” Cindy explains.
Cindy gives us her five helpful hints to get yourself back on track:
Nurture an ‘I-have-your-back’ culture:
The family unit can be a powerful platform of support, acceptance, encouragement, positive connectivity and unconditional love. Home should be your place-of-safety; your physical and emotional refuge against the challenges of the world. As parents, we need to set the tone of non-judgemental conversations, laughter and positive support. A hug, a listening ear, a word of encouragement, an acknowledgement of progress.
Chatting is important: Make an effort to bring back the ‘old’ family tradition of eating dinner around a table – or together on the mat, or under a tree in your garden – whichever will ensure that genuine conversations can take place. Food is a wonderful connector of people. Ask questions like: “How was your day? Did you enjoy soccer practice? Did you learn anything interesting today?” Your children will share their stories with you IF they feel safe-from judgement. Imagine the joy of genuine connectivity that conversations around a table can bring to you and your family!
Get active:
Looking after your physical body is just as important as taking care of your mental health. Find ways to exercise together; a walk in the park, a game of cricket in the back garden. Get enough sleep.
Model strong values:
Your children will follow your lead. Respect of self and others, integrity, kindness, a positive work ethic, resilience, self-regulation, accountability and responsibility. You can decide on a set of family values that work for you.
“Life can be challenging but it is simply not enough to just survive something. We can focus on personal wellbeing and find moments of great happiness and fulfilment amidst the struggles.” concludes Cindy.