“When we are no longer able to change a situation, we are challenged to change ourselves.” – Viktor Frankl
It’s been one hell of a week. Right now, it’s likely to get worse than better.
The whole point of mastering your physical limits is so that you can master your mental limits. So while everyone is having a meltdown, this is a good time to put that theory to practice.
Right now, It’s likely to get worse before it gets better. So here’s what you can do to stay calm when everyone else is panicking.
Breathe
A lot of people are unsure about things right now. When things get uncomfortable – breathe. You’ll find all that cold shower training is paying off after all.
If you can sit with being physically uncomfortable, it’s a lot easier to sit with the mental discomfort.
If you’re still having trouble, go sit in an ice bath – literally. The economy will seem a lot less immediately important.
Workout
Most people won’t put this at the top of their list. They should. When things feel out of control, the one thing you get to control is your body. What you eat, what you do, what you think.
Pushups are great. Weights are better. It might be a confusing time and you might not know what to think or where to go, but 200 pounds is always 200 pounds.
Get under some heavy weights and breathe.
Clean Your Space
You’re going to be spending some time in your house. It might as well be clean. As Jordan B. Peterson says, “Clean Your Damn Room.”
This is an extension of taking care of your body. Take care of your space. Be proud of it and keep it clear. You’ll find your headspace clears up as well.
Look Out For Others
One of the primary reasons to be strong, steadfast and grounded is so that when this stuff does happen, you can take care of the people you need to take care of.
Older people and people with pre-existing conditions – watch out for them and check in on your parents, friends, and neighbors.
Look For Opportunities
Everybody wishes they would have bought a house when prices were low in the recession. But most people were too busy freaking out to see the opportunities.
When you’re calm, breathing, and unwavered, you’re in such a better position to take advantage of the opportunities that arise while everyone else is too busy running around scared.
There’s opportunities everywhere, but you have to be looking for them. Find where things are going. Then get there first.
p.s. if you read “look for opportunities” and immediately think that means taking advantages of people, you really, really need to fix your head.
Find The Arc
When the recession hit in 2009, I was bummed. I couldn’t get a job, stuck in my parents basement and felt like a loser. It sucked so much that I forced myself to not be one.
Pain always brings opportunity. People really do not like to hear that message in the midst of pain, but if you know that – you can find the arc, summon an indomitable will to keep going, and break through to the next level.
He who has a why to live can bear almost any how. – Nietzsche
Keep Working
Be unwavering. Do your work if you still can. Take care of your friends and family. Stay after it. Keep training. Keep pushing.
Everyone else is distracted, worried, and running scared. Now’s the time to make up ground, improve and keep getting better.
Sure you can burn through every show on Netflix. Or, you could start working on that stack of books you’ve had sitting there, finally launch the product you’ve been talking about or start ramping up your workouts for summer.
LETS GO.
Bonus: Get Out In Nature (Alone)
It’s a good time to work, run, hike or do something else outside (just not in groups). Sunlight helps not only helps disinfect, but also has the added bonus of not driving you crazy.
What To Do Next
IMPOSSIBLE Challenge 003 – The Quarantine Challenge
Since the beginning of the year, we’ve been running IMPOSSIBLE ® challenges every 6 weeks. We were going to wait until April to launch the next challenge, but given the circumstances – we’re going to do it starting tomorrow.
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