Apr 30, 2020
Our ability to cope with change is a challenge for most. We all handle it differently. For some, the struggle is in the transition, for others the lack of control or perhaps, the unexpectedness of it all.
Today over lunch we shared on coping with shifting goalposts: how did we feel when lockdown was extended? How did we react and how were we supporting others, feeling the same?
Holding both family and friends during a time of crisis – whilst navigating it yourself – is a steep learning curve. Our shared experiences of living through sudden, unexpected change, gave the following encouragement:
“Make the decision to not give up!”
“Know that you can choose how to react and by doing so, choose what energy to inject into the situation…”
“Understand the importance of role-modelling behaviour in a crisis for our children and it’s impact over the long-term.”
“Take time to pause before responding – there’s power in reflection!”
There’s a great deal of comfort from having regular, touchpoints of conversation and connection during a time of great change and uncertainty. Why not join us every week for a conversation over lunch? Next week’s topic is on letting things slide…!
Join us on zoom- https://zoom.us/j/8044531372 – from 12-1pm every Thursday. The password is LeadChange – all welcome!
With love, all of us at She Leads Change
Apr 23, 2020
In today’s Holding Family conversation, we looked at lockdown through a slightly different lens, focussing on celebrating our wins over the last month.
When so much of our lockdown conversation revolves around the negative and what we can’t, aren’t or able to do, it can be really hard to feel like we’re winning at anything. Taking time out to reflect on the positives of this experience and acknowledging our successes, builds our resilience. Sharing together reminds us we’re not alone and solidarity is a powerful tonic when feeling like all you’re doing, is treading water.
Some of the wins shared today:
“the gift of being present”
“being able to slow down”
“focussing on what we want to do rather than those we need to do…”
“recognising we can be happy and experience joy in the now”
“joy of reciprocity in our community”
“the opportunity to see this time as a reboot”
What are you doing really well? What one thing are you doing daily, that you can celebrate?
Join us again next week – this time our conversation revolves around the possibility of lockdown being extended…How do you feel when the goal posts shift – especially when it’s a shift not of our choosing or control?
We meet every Thursday from 12-1pm – find us on zoom: https://zoom.us/j/8044531372 . Bring lunch 🙂 All welcome!
With love, all of us at She Leads Change
Apr 21, 2020
We started a new week with our guest speaker Rachel who, inspired by a previous Cup of Calm session on ‘forgiveness’ took us through the topic of ‘beauty’. We were treated to some images of beauty together with the beautiful words from T S Elliot’s Four Quartets which stirred up unique emotions in each of us and conjured up stark visualizations of beauty.
Rachel recommended two books which offer extraordinary gifts of beauty on every page:
Who can afford to live without beauty? Beauty fills us with passion; it graces us with joy and lights up our existence. A landscape, a piece of music, a film, a dance … suddenly all dreariness is gone [and] we are left betwitched. Beauty has a formidable, liberating effect on the human spirit. [It] harmonizes the mind. Inevitable Grace – Pier Ferrucci
A world without beauty would be unbearable. The subtle touches of beauty are what enable most people to survive. Yet beauty is so quietly woven through our ordinary days that we hardly notice it. When we experience beauty, we feel called. Divine Beauty – John O’ Donohue
We asked ourselves – what would my life be like with more beauty? And what images of beauty could we offer to each other to sustain each other over the coming week? Slowing down, listening, noticing, peace, beauty from relationships, being present, beauty from loved ones, slow moments and beauty in nature were just some of the gifts we offered one another.
Listen. Put on the morning.
Waken into fallen light.
G. S. Graham
Thank you Rachel for such a beautiful start to our morning! Following on from today’s Cup of Calm, one of our listeners – Antonia – shared this podcast she found extraordinary, in light of John O’ Donohue’s words – we thought you’d might like to take a listen too: https://onbeing.org/programs/john-odonohue-the-inner-landscape-of-beauty-aug2017/
We look forward to seeing you on a Cup of Calm tomorrow. Please join us via: https://zoom.us/j/8044531372 and, if asked, the password is LeadChange. Do invite others – everyone is welcome!
This event is free to join. If you would like to, please donate as you are able – with no obligation and no upper or lower limit. The link to donate is: paypal.me/weleadchange. All profits will go towards supporting our community of freelancers, small business owners and independents during this time. We suggest the price of a cup of coffee – £2.50 per day or £40 per month.
With love from of us at She Leads Change x
Apr 17, 2020
Today, our lovely Lamese talked about inviting joy in to our lives during this ‘period of pause’. Many of us have been discovering joy in the smallest of things and rediscovering forgotten joys… or joy that we didn’t know we needed.
Our natural state is being still, quiet awareness. It is one with a feeling of inner peace, joy and love. Like when we were children playing for long periods just with a stick or chasing others around and laughing til our belly hurt.
In this state you can see that you are one with everything around you, and that your sense of self depends on nothing. You no longer have to look to anything to give you a sense of engulfment or satisfaction, because it is already there inside you.
When the noise is dialed down we can start to appreciate different things. And most of these things are completely free. Some of the things that have been bringing us joy recently:
Walking in wide open spaces.
Baking, cooking and enjoying.
Zoom calls – seeing each other and connecting.
Looking at the bluebells.
Getting in touch with my playful side.
Interaction with my children.
Walking to the shop without any traffic around me.
Gardening – really looking at the flowers and plants.
Talking to family and connecting more frequently than I usually would.
Our daily connection through Cup of Calm!
We look forward to seeing you on a Cup of Calm next week. Please join us via: https://zoom.us/j/8044531372 and, if asked, the password is LeadChange. Do invite others – everyone is welcome!
This event is free to join. If you would like to, please donate as you are able – with no obligation and no upper or lower limit. The link to donate is: paypal.me/weleadchange. All profits will go towards supporting our community of freelancers, small business owners and independents during this time. We suggest the price of a cup of coffee – £2.50 per day or £40 per month.
Wishing you a wonderful weekend ahead – see you next week!
With love from of us at She Leads Change x
Apr 16, 2020
Over lunch today, we shared the feelings that come up when we think about our extended family and friends during this uncertain time of ours.
It’s one thing to manage, support and care for those living with us during lockdown, but what about those we love, living afar? How do we feel about not being about to be there for them – and how do we manage those feelings?
Some of the take-aways from today’s conversation were:
Feel the feels…
Be kind to yourself
Be honest with yourself and your loved ones about your love and appreciation – as well as the worry
Routine is a wonderful antidote to stress: so get ready, do your hair and get dressed for zoom outings!
Make peace with “good enough” in this time and use that as your yard-stick…
We might be living alone, but we don’t have to be lonely…
Please join us next week for lunch – via: https://zoom.us/j/8044531372 – if asked, the password is LeadChange. We meet every Thursday from 12-1pm and share a different topic. Do invite others – everyone is welcome!
With love, all of us at She Leads Change
