Reframing the crisis and focusing on what you can do.

We are in unprecedented times for this generation. As the government tonight imposed more restrictions, state borders close, international borders close, businesses are being forced to shut their doors, supermarket shelves remain empty for toilet paper and hand sanitiser, and sport is all but stopped; it's easy to be caught up in the anxiety. It's easy to be caught up in the panic. If you go on Facebook tonight, you'll probably see discussions on whether you should send your kids to school or not. The nation, collectively, is reeling.

When we are afraid, when we are vulnerable, we can act in ways that hurt others. We lash out with our words. We purchase more things than we need. We look for ways to cope that might not be entirely helpful. But we can choose to act differently.

We can start by reframing the crisis. Instead of focusing on all the things that have stopped and we can't do, we can focus on what we CAN DO. We can choose to change our words and our mindset. We can actively choose to focus on acting with intention, finding activities that give us a sense of meaning and purpose.

Here is an opportunity for me to connect with my friends on facetime

Here is an opportunity for me to truly connect with my kids without distraction who will need me more than ever

Here is an opportunity for me to connect with my neighbours and community

Here is an opportunity for me to help my community - share my resources with others

Here is an opportunity for me to write that book I was always going to write

Here is an opportunity for me to show kindness and compassion to those less fortunate

Here is an opportunity for me to learn another language

Here is an opportunity for me to practice guitar

Here is an opportunity to tell the people I care about how much they mean to me

Here is an opportunity to look at my business and make improvements

Here is an opportunity to look at my career and goals and set plans to achieve those goals

Here is an opportunity for me to be the best version of me - to show kindness and compassion to others, to set an example, to show selfless behaviour, to find meaning and purpose in my life, which will help manage feelings of anxiety and depression, even in the darkest of times.