I recently read an article written by psychologist Adam Grant called “There’s a Name for the Blah You’re Feeling: It’s Called Languishing” regarding the dominant emotion of 2021 due to the Pandemic. We’re all experiencing fatigue in one way or another. We feel weak and droopy and we’re suffering hardship. There are many who are grieving the loss of loved ones. Your loved one isn’t just another COVID number or statistic, they are a valuable human being who didn’t deserve this, nor did you.
Relationships are suffering. Problems that are normally buried due to other distractions and events in life, have come to the surface. The working world is changing as Work From Home is starting to become the norm and saving companies significant amounts of money. Singles are lonelier than ever.
So - what am I trying to get at? Humans need other humans right now. Coaching relationships are even more valuable now than they were before the Pandemic. We are all searching for meaning, purpose, and finding ways to cope with major life transitions that we didn’t expect or want. Setting aside consistent time for yourself to brainstorm ideas, work through grief and pain, and discuss changes in your life is more important than ever. One of my clients was originally discouraged re: the Pandemic and coaching, stating that “no one has answers”, essentially, no one can fix COVID problems. And while no one has a magic wand to make all the sadness and pain go away, we do have the ability to connect, become more self-aware of our emotions and how it’s affecting our thoughts and actions, and brainstorm for the future. The beauty is in the brainstorming and accountability. The client ultimately realized that they needed someone to talk to because they weren’t processing by themselves and didn’t make it a priority. Working with a coach, it became a scheduled call on their calendar that they did not want to miss or neglect.
Please know that no matter how discouraged you feel from the effects of the Pandemic, you are not alone. We all have our detailed list of “blahs” that we can write. You are important and valuable enough to carve out time for self-care. Whether it’s with a coach, therapist, trusted friend, please be kind to yourself and explore what’s going on in your world.
Thinking of you all.
JH