helpless to hopeless

Ok, real talk. Right now it's easy to feel helpless.

Especially if we're not an essential business or on the front line, it's easy to feel powerless.

And of course we're feeling this way - so much of life feels out of our control.

What can we really do for the people who are suffering? What can we do for our friend who is sick? What can we do for our family far away? What can we do?

But I've been reading the research, and helplessness does not help us. Because when we teach ourselves that it's impossible to make a difference, we eventually stop trying. Which not only impacts how we show up right now, but if we stay powerless long enough, we won't be able to try at anything at all.

And it's not our fault. Eventually our brain learns that trying isn't worth it, that trying doesn't work, that nothing we do makes a dent and so we lose our ability to try.

Our brain is just trying to protect us. But (of course) the opposite happens and we're left in despair.

So how do we stop it?

I've got three tricks for you:

🦸 Do something that makes you feel powerful. Finish a puzzle. Do ten pushups. Cook a new recipe. Vacuum. Watch Thor. Anything that makes you feel like a super hero - do it.

👯‍♀️ Reach out to a friend. When we remember that we're all in this together, we can cheer each other on. Even if we feel like we're all just treading water. And bonus - talk about at least one thing that is good right now (even if it's just the weather).

🤯 Remind yourself that EVERYTHING matters. How you treat your neighbor matters. Ordering takeout from a local spot matters. Saying thank you matters. Smiling at someone walking on the street matters. Taking care of yourself matters.

And let me know with 🦸 👯‍♀️ 🤯 - which one of these are you going to practice today?