Power Hour

Hi Sis,

I wanted to offer some much-needed encouragement during these times of uncertainty. For many of us, the Coronavirus created a new normal; we had no choice but to adjust to a new way of living. Some people lost their jobs, group counseling has been postponed, and individual therapy sessions are held via telephone or Zoom. We did not have time to prepare for the chaos that COVID-19 would bring. Nothing seems stable, and no one knows when this health crisis will end.

Amid fear and chaos, we have to remember that our stability comes from within. When the world is spinning out of control, we must hold onto what we can control. We can control our response. Remind yourself that you have been through worse. Yes, COVID-19 is scary, but this virus does not hold a candle to what we face as trauma survivors.

I have struggled during this pandemic, and I had to remind myself that I am a survivor in every sense of the word; better yet, I am an OVERCOMER. I had to pinpoint my issues by asking myself questions….  Where is your faith in God? Are you drinking enough water? Are you getting enough sleep? How are you handling your anxiety? Are you meditating? Are you praying? What types of food are you eating? Pay attention to yourself. This is not the time to lose it. You are bold and brave. This pandemic is an excellent opportunity to see how far you have come in your healing journey.

Once I identified the areas of lack of self-care, I made the necessary adjustments. While attending group therapy, I struggled with spending time with myself and ensuring all of my needs were met. I created what I call the “Power Hour.” The power hour is a great way to intentionally take care of our bodies, mental health, and spiritual needs daily. Of course, if you don’t have an hour to spare, that’s fine too. Do what you can, but be intentional about loving yourself. We are responsible for ourselves.

 Here is an example of what my power hour may look like.

The goal of the power hour is to spend one-hour doing activities that will add to you as a person. For instance, allow yourself 15 minutes for each activity. Of course, you can divide your time however you like. Some activities may take longer than others; sometimes, I exercise for the whole hour. This is meant to be a fun activity, but it is also helpful if you want to use this time to face unpleasant triggers and emotions. Make this personal to you. There is no right or wrong way to do this. The power hour has changed my life, and I look forward to spending that time with myself. I pray that you find it helpful as well. Remember, no one knows what you need more than you.

Take care! 🙂

Be Blessed God loves you.