{"id":52119,"date":"2020-08-05T00:33:17","date_gmt":"2020-08-05T00:33:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.downtownworks.com\/?p=52119"},"modified":"2021-03-09T22:36:46","modified_gmt":"2021-03-10T06:36:46","slug":"redefining-your-comfort-zone","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/downtownworks.presstigers.dev\/redefining-your-comfort-zone\/","title":{"rendered":"Redefining Your Comfort Zone"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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As you may have noticed, a tidal wave of change has washed over us all these past few months and has shifted every normalcy we have. From crowds of anguished protesters in the streets, to fears of contracting a deadly disease – it\u2019s overwhelming and at times can feel practically apocalyptic. Perhaps you\u2019re feeling a bit like Smeagol, squinting and pale, creeping out from the shadows of quarantine into an unfamiliar landscape. What the HECK just happened? Why is this going on? What do I do? Where\u2019s precious?<\/p>\n

You may feel paralyzed by a culmination of emotional responses both of your own variety and those reverberating off others around you. Fear of the unknown, is real. As is isolation in quarantine, grief for those suffering, and anger over injustices all carry a psychological ripple effect, shifting our lives and consciousness like tectonic plates. These emotions have the power to change the way we think, and they have. A metaphorical earthquake of change struck unpredictably, fortunately, the initial jolt is over. As the dust is settling now, we can begin to assess ourselves and our peers, and rebuild understanding. Hey, look at that – a bright side!<\/p>\n

Start with you<\/span><\/span><\/h4>\n

The partially clich\u00e9 adage that you cannot pour from an empty cup is more relevant now than ever. If you don\u2019t tend to yourself and your own needs, you risk being consumed by the challenges you face. Being unprepared emotionally, psychologically, or even physically leaves you wrung dry of empathy, energy, and emotions. You\u2019re depleted to the point of numbness and physiological reactions like headaches, insomnia and depression take over. These symptoms are known as compassion fatigue<\/b><\/a>.<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re crying in the bathtub, eating ice cream three times a day, and struggling to sleep, you are not creating a safe space for yourself<\/em>. The most recent Downtown Works Coffee Huddle features Carlos Isaziga<\/b><\/a>, touches on mental health and the value its practice can bring. Here are a few quick questions for a self-check in:<\/p>\n