What I Learned About Life through the Pandemic

I am not sure I truly understood what a pandemic was. I mean truly was. I remember seeing that word in Scrabble, a New York Times crossword and the history books, but never could I have imagined I would be living through it. 

Like everyone else, I’ve been moving through the stages of grief, including denial, anger and depression. But the connection to self and to others I’ve experienced over the past four weeks have brought me to this place of groundedness and gratitude and living my life purpose like never before.

The Jeanie I knew in early March was certain of the world she would be a part of in the months ahead. She knew the Executive Coaching clients she would be helping. She knew the speaking engagements and topics for the conversations she would be having on her podcast. But the Jeanie who sits here now, talking with you, doesn’t know the world she will live in tomorrow–and that takes my breath away. After the panic subsided, something of a spiritual jolt occurred. All of these images and words came to mind around how I could help others go through this wild experience. This courageous, abundance-oriented warrior emerged with nothing but an open heart and an open hand. 

I was ready to take a leap. I started my journey back to the foundation of who I was in that moment and through that process I realized how much I wanted to find a way to be in service to the business community. The easiest thing for me would have been to write a blog post, host a few webinars or share insights in a podcast–all platforms that are very familiar to me. But, instead, I decided to take a risk.  

I decided to begin my journey using a platform that I knew next to nothing about: Facebook Live. I asked myself what is the quickest and easiest way to build community and connection, and Facebook was the clear answer. Well, after a 30-minute tutorial on a Sunday afternoon with a very patient friend, I was up on Monday morning at 8:30am ready to be in service to the world! I had a simple plan: create an ongoing anchor for the business community – a set place and time where we could all connect and where I could offer my perspective and ideas and, ultimately, play my part in helping others cope and manage through the insanity of a pandemic. I felt deep down that if I stepped forward fearlessly I would be a catalyst for others to examine their own capacity like never before–and I now see that happening on each Facebook Live I do. I also realized that this is the first time in history that we are able to connect with each other immediately and intimately during a worldwide, shared experience. 

So, I started to take notes on the lessons I was learning.  My hope in sharing my personal learning with you is that it shines a light on your beautiful humanness and, perhaps, even prompts you to play a little with the edges in your own life. 

Okay! Here goes…

Lesson 1: Everything starts with a strong mind, body and spirit. Of course! I knew this already. But yet I don’t do anything with it with any regularity and consistency. Now though, being home for an indefinite period of time it has hit me on a deep soulful level and I’ve realized that being inconsistent is not an option anymore. It’s going back to the fundamentals of everything. So it’s not just about increasing Vitamin C and exercising more. Yes, these are important, but do you look after your mind and your spirit with the same discernment that you use when you’re looking at your gluten intake? I know I didn’t! I manage my carbs, monitor my workouts, look at the scale (a bit too much actually) and I am very in tune with what’s in style (which is embarrassing to admit here but it’s for the greater good!). What I was not doing was providing the same care and feeding to my mind and spirit. Where was my meditation? My journaling? Was I practicing anything that brought me back to a state of presence? Was I in tune with anything other than a transactional mindset? Hard no! As I moved more into this new normal, I wanted more control and could feel my fear and anxieties increase. And then it happened. I hit the proverbial wall and I had an emotional break.As I was in the depths of my sadness and anger, I could feel deep down inside of me that a release and rebirth were happening. It was the beginning of the integration of my mind, body and spirit and this interdependent relationship was the path to my wholeness as a new being. 

Lesson 2: When you want to optimize anything, create a group. We operate at an optimal level as human beings when we get into groups and share. We all know that the most significant events in history and changes in society have happened because groups formed and discussion ensued. BUT NOW I’m seeing a direct correlation between groups, conversation and a return to ourselves. My personal and professional experience evolved over the last 15 years because I have always had an affinity for capitalizing on the collective power of groups. In fact, each pivotal shift in my life has come from a discussion with a group. I realized a long time ago that life is boring and limited if I am constantly running ideas past myself and during a pandemic it’s no different! What I am learning through this Covid-19 emotional rollercoaster is that the more we are in community and connect, the stronger and smarter we are becoming. It is not a time for competition or winners, it's a time for us to gather and commune as human beings who need each other, and together we will be resilient and re-emerge as reshaped human beings. 

Lesson 3: We can turn fear, anxiety into action and motion forward. I am in awe of our healthcare community and our first responders. They are feeling the same fear we are experiencing but they do not let it stop them. They aligned with a sense purpose, obligation and connectedness because they feel a sense of duty to protect us. Think of how big that is. I am worrying about going to the grocery store more than once a week and they are working 12-hour days six and even seven days a week in order to be in service to the general public. I was thinking about it from a leadership perspective and I found myself wondering what it would be like to be in a conversation with the governors of New York and New Jersey, the leaders of hospitals, fire departments and police departments…simply talking through scenarios and co-creating solutions. How do we plan for and respond to a pandemic? We turn off our fear and anxiety and turn on the strength, resourcefulness and ingenuity we have as human beings. We let these be the light that guides us forward.

Lesson 4: Sharing struggles is a strength. This is a revolutionary concept to me. It doesn’t mean I don’t share, I do. But in the past it’s only been with those closest to me. I would not and have not shared so personally in a public forum until Covid-19. I’ve realized through my Facebook Live conversations that not only does sharing help us to experience the essence of being alive, but it encourages others to step into their own realness.  This is a global experience that affects every human being. When in our lifetime will we share such a sense of connectedness again? For me, pandemic or not, I will not shy away from sharing my struggles publicly anymore. I’ve learned the value of it and it’s a strength I want to develop further. Let’s all keep doing it.

Lesson 5: I am a consumer. Yes, I am a consumer who loves to buy things, both for myself and for others. I love to go out to eat. I love to visit beautiful places. I love to travel. I love buying souvenirs to remind me of my adventures. Doing these things feeds my soul in many ways, but they are all externally focused. What would happen if I turned my consumption mindset inwards? I never really thought about it until all of those external things weren’t available or easy to do anymore. I now realize how often I go outside of myself to feed my needs. Where does that need to consume come from? Is it an imbalance or inequity within me? I’m now asking how I can feed my needs by being more internally focused and what I’ve learned is something I’ve known all along: The journey inwards is a long winding path with sharp turns and lots of hills to climb. But the view from that path is breathtaking and traveling it, life changing. It’s the path back to yourself.