Let's write a good story!

Author Margaret Atwood has said that the story doesn't begin until there is an interruption in a pattern. We're all currently experiencing a massive pattern interruption, but it's up to each of us to decide how we want our story to unfold. Here at The 5-Minute Recharge we want to help you create a good story out of a challenging situation with expert advice, encouragement and wellness tools. Let's get started! ONE QUOTE THAT MATTERS “History tells us that after taking a hard look at our mortality, we get more serious about what's worth our time and effort. Do work that matters. Do work that makes things better.” ― Seth Godin Addie Greco-Sanchez is doing work that matters and makes things better. Please join her on Tuesday March 31 from noon to 1:00pm Eastern time (9:00am to 10:00am Pacific) for the free webinar "Build Your Resilience Five Minutes at a Time" featuring the five pillars of wellness (sleep, step, sweat, reflect, and connect) that will support you in mind, body and spirit during these turbulent times.

IKEA shares its simplest instructions ever. THREE IDEAS  

#1 A STOIC STORY Over 2,300 years ago, Greek Stoic philosophers discovered that the secret to a happy life is to control only what we can control, specifically our character, our actions, and our emotions. The Stoics, far from being stoic in the modern sense that has come to mean being emotionless, wanted to maximize positive feelings and minimize negative feelings. The Stoic's goal in life was to achieve tranquility. According to Bill Irvine, the author of The Stoic Challenge: A Philosopher's Guide to Becoming Tougher, Calmer, and More Resilient, one of the best ways to have a positive emotional response to a setback is through reframing, and one of the best reframing devices is the future storytelling frame. Try to imagine yourself in the future telling somebody what it was like for you living through the COVID-19 pandemic. Done right, the future storytelling frame can make the present much more acceptable as you view setbacks, not as insurmountable obstacles, but as a series of tests from the Stoic gods. “Live your life so that your story, told truthfully, makes you, instead of someone who is miserable and frustrated, into somebody who cleverly addressed the challenges, smiled their way through the challenges, found the workaround through those challenges.” ― Bill Irvine, Happiness Lab Interview #2 THE STORY OF AN ASTRONAUT Astronaut Chris Hadfield, who's had lengthy experience living (and thriving) in self-isolation, advises us to view the pandemic experience as a mission with daily and weekly goals that answer the question: what do you want to get done? Rather than be fearful, Hadfield encourages us to understand the actual risks and constraints and take action, using our mission as an opportunity to do things we've never done before. Scott Kelly lived on the International Space Station for nearly a year and advises us to establish a routine with a consistent sleep schedule and plenty of time dedicated to reading, hobbies, journaling, exercise and fun (Kelly binge-watched Game of Thrones...twice). Kelly also strongly advises us to connect with others via technology as a boost to both mental and physical health. “It's worth making time to connect with someone every day–it might actually help you fight off viruses.” – Astronaut Scott Kelly #3 VIRTUAL ACTS OF FRIENDSHIP To help you connect with others and give you something fun to do as you kibitz over videoconference, Lynne, along with her friends Deb Mangolt and Julie Smethurst have written a free e-book. 5 Acts of Virtual Friendship features five activities that will help you put the happy in your virtual happy hour and position you to hit the ground running when the threat of contagion has passed. Let’s use this vast shared experience to deepen our connection with friends and strangers alike, and emerge from isolation stronger and more connected than ever. – From 5 Acts of Virtual Friendship *********************************** The Fast Five 1. A World War II guide to living in lockdown (thank you, Patrick!) - YouTube (6 minutes) 2. Books are your passport -The New York Times (You can also read plays aloud, but we don't recommend “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf” for couples in isolation) 3. The discomfort you're feeling is grief - Harvard Business Review 4. Dr Jud tells us how to stop compulsively checking the news - YouTube (5 minutes) 5. The 3Ms of getting yourself out of the coronadumps - Inc *********************************** YOUR 5-MINUTE RECHARGE CHALLENGE

FUTURE STORYTELLING “Thinking in terms of future storytelling can take much of the sting out of the setbacks you experience.” – Bill Irvine, The Stoic Challenge You can probably guess this week's 5-Minute Recharge challenge: write your future story. Re-read idea #1 and take five minutes or so to write the truthful story you want to tell about how you handled the pandemic. Read your story each morning, keep it close at hand, and notice how it changes your reaction to the obstacles you encounter. “With a little effort on your part, you can "write" with your behaviour a story that is not just interesting but potentially uplifting to those who hear it.” ― Bill Irvine, The Stoic Challenge Wishing you an uplifting story of your own design in the week ahead, Lynne & Addie If you have a friend who could use a positive charge, please share our newsletter...consider it an Act of Friendship!