Perspective

I’ve been reflecting on just how much has changed in the 4 weeks since my fibroid removal surgery. The time off from work, fundraising and training now feels like a gift in that I’ve not been distracted and been able to reflect deeply on life.

As I slowly emerge from this first phase of recovery, I feel like I’ve gained perspective on things and allowed my brain the rest it needed to be able to recognise new possibilities. But, most importantly, I’ve emerged with a strong sense of self, and I’ve realised the need to implement some key actions to help me achieve my goals.

Exercise my Agency

Life’s thrown me some pretty awful curveballs in the last decade, particularly when it comes to my health. But now, especially after this last surgery I feel like the world could finally truly become my oyster. I have the chance to live a life that’s no longer burdened by physical pain or restricted by the anxiety of not knowing when the next fatigue bout will hit. And now that this weight has been lifted, I feel there’s more freedom to plan and it’s simply wonderful!

Reinforce My Boundaries

I really struggle with reinforcing boundaries that I’ve set for myself at work and in my personal life and that has at times caused me more stress and anxiety. Saying no can sometimes feel like you’re being mean, unkind, or even lazy. But, by saying no, or not right now, you’re actually giving yourself the time and energy to create the space necessary to excel at the tasks in hand.

I’m guilty of becoming so used to being turned down or dismissed that when an opportunity presents itself, I feel rather foolish for considering and rejecting it rather that accepting. But I’m learning that it really does pay to examine things thoroughly, to see if they align with your vision, goals, and values before accepting. A kind no can often be the best course of action.

Protect My Energy

The first thing that can often spring to mind when people mention ‘protecting your energy’ is blocking out negativity or distancing yourself from negative and hurtful people. Now whilst this is a key element, I think it’s also important to actively seek out and surround yourself with people who challenge, educate, inspire, and encourage you. As you protect your energy, you make space for your character to grow making it easier to be gracious and kind even when a situation may not warrant it.

The Vortex of Uncertainty

It’s been a tough couple of weeks. Juggling a full-time job, an intense training schedule and life in general isn’t easy at the best of times so adding uncertainty and anxiety to the mix makes for a pretty frantic rollercoaster ride if I’m honest. 🎢😓

My anxiety has been off the wall lately and it’s partly because I am nearing the sponsorship deadline (IN 18 DAYS😱😱😱) and even if I get the money I’m not sure that I’ll even be able to go this year as the 2020/2021 Antarctic season may be cancelled altogether due to Covid-19. Which means a whole extra year of training and missing out on major life events of friends and family😢.

I feel like I’m stuck in this never-ending 🌪vortex of uncertainty🌪 and can I be totally honest?! I am SICK OF IT! I know I’m not the only one feeling like this. This pandemic has been such a stressful period for all of us, because our brains are not wired for this kind of uncertainty overload. We don’t know when it will end, we don’t know how we feel about it all; and we don’t know if we’ll ever go back to normal. And if you’re anything like me, not knowing is not ok!

So, I decided to do some research on why our brains react as they do to the 🌪vortex of uncertainty🌪 and share what I’ve learnt so far in the hope that it will help you as it is helping me.

Did you know that we are wired to always put safety first? That means that our brain equates safety with certainty and that gives us a sense of balance and peace. In that state of peace our brains are best equipped to proficiently handle whatever situation we’re facing🧠☮️. If that sense of balance and peace is threatened by a constant barrage of uncertainty, our brain loses its ability to maintain the vital connection to our rational mind, which we need to help us make sense of it all, and we can end up feeling constantly and hopelessly overwhelmed.

The good news is that we can help our brains to re-engage with that sense of safety, balance and peace by introducing some simple steps into our daily routine. These are a few that have worked for me:

• BREATHE 🧘🏾‍♀️: A simple technique is just to take a deep big belly breath in, hold it for a few counts, then slowly exhale and repeat.

• EXERCISE💃🏾: Whether that means dancing to your favourite tune like no one is watching, taking a long walk or training for a marathon…simply move that hot body of yours!

• RHYTHM🎶: Create a simple schedule that you won’t have trouble sticking to and then stick it on repeat like it’s your favourite song.

• BOUNDARIES📴: Friends, family, work..they’re all wonderful and can be enjoyed all the more when there are healthy boundaries in place.

• REST💤: I can’t stress enough how integral to wellbeing your sleep and taking time to rest actually is. We simply cannot function without it.

• FOCUS🧠: What are you focusing on and feeding your brain with? Is it true, is it necessary, is it healthy? Simple practises like limiting the amount of news we read/watch can help in limiting anxiety as they limit exposure to possible negative trigger words and scenarios.

• CONNECT:👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Your family, friends, tribe, team, ride or die… whatever you call them, whoever they are; celebrate them when things are going well; support them when things are messy. Those connections are vital and will keep you nourished in times of deepest despair.

I’ve no idea whether this will resonate with anyone but sharing it has reminded me of a few things I need to put into place again to help me navigate these uncertain times. Know that it’s totally ok not to be ok; none of us have this all figured out and some days all you’ll be able to do is stay under the duvet, eat ice-cream and binge on Netflix❤️.