Hi Everyone! What a year it’s been

Hello!

Hi Everyone! What a year it’s been.

Sad. Angry. Optimistic. Confused. Frustrated. Curious. Exhausted. Ready. Exacerbated. Defeated. Impatient. Prepared.

These are just some of the feelings that I, along with so many others, have felt over the last year and then again, this week as we watched COVID-19 dominate our newsfeeds, our conversations at work and home and for many our daily work practices. In my conversations this year and again these last couple of weeks it’s obvious that despite the optimistic readiness so many of us feel as we go about our lives there has been a growing sense of uncertainty and ambiguity about what our lives might look like at work and at home in the coming months as we watch the unfolding news around the world. So many people are impacted directly by COVID as a result of family and friends in other states and countries where visitation is either near or completely impossible. These are challenging times for so many. Compassion may just be the perfect gift you can give yourself, a fellow team member or a friend this week. I wanted to share a couple of practical strategies to help us cope and thrive in these uncertain times!

BY BRUCE SULLIVAN

YOUR BEST YOU

C.S. Lewis was quoted as saying that ”Adults would rather be reminded than instructed”! We are still reminding people not to drink and drive, drink lots of water, be sun smart, exercise regularly etc. I’ve always found that reminding myself about what has not changed in my life, that I still love to do despite the uncertainty, helps me keep a healthy perspective on life. What are the things you love, you loved prior to COVID, even during COVID and you will continue to love them long after COVID? Who are the people you love, the activities you love, the things you love… they fill your cup and remind you that not everything has changed!

So, for me: I still love my family! (Well most of them and, yes, even during lockdown!)

I still love watching movies with my daughter and doing Daddy Daughter Dates!

I still love motorbike rides with my son!

I still love our surprise date nights! (Yes, even creatively and/or simply during the lockdown!)

I still love it when people find a way to do something worthwhile versus go looking for an excuse not to!

I still love playing AFL football!

I still love dreaming of great places to travel!

I still love gardening!

I still love ice cream, chocolate and great wine, and in no particular order!

I still love random acts of kindness!

I still love sailing!

I still love serving others!

There’s so very many more I have on my actual list! What’s on your list of things you loved before, during and most likely will love for a long time after COVID? What hasn’t changed? It is a fun thing to do for our own well-being and it is fun to share with others! Everyday life keeps changing and throwing the next challenge at us. I hope that by reminding yourself about what has NOT changed… that you still love doing regardless of the chaos, that it may shed a moment of positive reflection and hope.

Please be reminded that if you’d like some further support in these crazy times then please feel free to ask for help, have a chat with a friend or please reach out to Lifeline or Beyond Blue. Best wishes, Bruce

Bruce is a proven performer in achieving results in people for over 30 years. His practical, hands on experience is based on working with individuals, families, businesses and communities providing education and opportunities for personal improvement.

Managing his own businesses since his teens, by age 24 he had established his own million-dollar network of businesses and he has an extended track record of working with a wide range of private and public organisations, both in Australia and overseas.

Bruce Sullivan is father to Hannah aged 23 and Declan aged 19. Second to his family, his personal passions centre around education and making a positive difference through his work in both business and in the community. His enthusiastic, entertaining and hands-on approach gets long term tangible results and has resulted in 100% of his work being generated from repeat and referral business, which is of course the strongest possible testimony to his skills.

Reprinted with permission.