covid19 | Leanne French Relationship Expert & Counsellor

Tag Archives: covid19

Tame Your Thoughts.

Right now, more than ever, there are a lot of people experiencing turbulent thoughts that they describe as “having a hold over them.”

Our usual thoughts keep us pretty busy as it is, but lately it’s the catastrophic thoughts of future scenarios that appear to be running wild, egging on restlessness, confusion and anxiety.

Here’s what I want you to know. Thoughts may seem like they come from outside of us, but they actually come from inside us. We’re in control of what we think. Let’s not give thoughts a power that they don’t have. Thoughts don’t choose us. We choose them.

A situation in itself doesn’t create overwhelm or panic, only your thoughts about Continue reading →

Tags: catastrophizing, corona virus emotional wellbeing, covid19, goodness influencer, how to emotionally manage isolation, how to stop overthinking, overthinking, overwhelm, reducing anxiety, taming thoughts, therapist, thinking and feeling

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Categories Counselling, Covid-19, Health, Mindfulness, Save the World, Self-care

Kindness is Cool.

14 Apr

Do your little bit of good where you are; it’s those little bits of good put together that overwhelms the world. Desmond Tutu.

In these uncertain times, acts of kindness, gentle words, praise, encouragement, warm smiles, considerate behaviours, helpfulness and thoughtfulness are more important than ever.

Co-operating with lockdown rules is an act of united kindness. We’re all in this together, doing our bit, for the greater good.

Kindness not only magically lifts the spirits of those giving and receiving, but even onlookers to kindness have increased levels of the happiness hormone in their brain.

We can be of service to humanity in many different sized ways. It doesn’t have to Continue reading →

Tags: caring for yourself in lockdown, corona virus emotional wellbeing, Covid-19, covid19, Kindness, Kindness is cool, Relationships

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Categories Compassion, Covid-19, Gratitude, Health, Kindness, Relationship advice, Save the World, Self-love

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Stay Safe in Your Bubble.

11 Apr

Tags: corona virus emotional wellbeing, Covid-19, covid19, how to emotionally manage isolation, how to manage isolation, stay in the bubble, stay safe in your bubble

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Categories Boundaries, Compassion, Covid-19, Health, Save the World, Self-care

Shine On.

8 Apr

If the light within you is greater than the darkness around you, you are a star. Matshona Dhliwayo.

The full, ‘pink’ super moon which just so happens to be the brightest and boldest of the year, is not the only thing with the power to illuminate. We can all be light filled agents of change who spread love, generosity and kindness into the world.

Let’s brighten our day by peeking into the positives.

There are extraordinary experts who are keeping us informed and shedding light on what matters.
Inventors and makers are busting their butts, accomplishing amazing things that contrast the black backdrop of virus doom.
Investors are donating dollars to incentives.
Growers are keeping food and jobs alive.
Food producers and suppliers are finding delivery options making sure we stay nourished.
Entertainers are shining a light on various new ways to connect us with their art.
Front line and essential workers are beyond heroic right now.
Bored children are inviting parents to be brighter versions of themselves by joining in with their fun activities.
There’s a glow of gorgeousness that radiates from tiny toddlers trying their hand at all kinds of stuff.
Reporters and newspeople are out and about shining their light into what we all miss the most, which accentuates the things we value and highlights what we need to feel secure.
Positive, online community pages light us up with laughter, shared culinary delights, and helpful blogs.

Continue reading →

Tags: caring for yourself in lockdown, covid19, Do good things, goodness influencer, how to emotionally manage isolation, Kindness, positivity, Shine on, therapist

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Categories Compassion, Counselling, Covid-19, Gratitude, Health, Inspiration, Kindness, Save the World

Hang in There.

7 Apr

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Most of us have had a time or two or three in our lives where a situation bought us crashing to our knees, and everything changed in an instant.

When we couldn’t calm the storm, it passed. When we thought the fear and the flow of tears would never stop, they actually did. When our castles crumbled, they got rebuilt. When our scars healed, they were stronger than skin.

Events may differ, but those that hold the potential to disrupt life as we know it, need acceptance and require us to control the parts we can and let go of what we can’t.

Hanging in requires time to pass. For patience and co-operation. For feelings to be Continue reading →

Tags: corona virus emotional wellbeing, covid19, Facing feelings, goodness influencer, how to emotionally manage isolation, Resilience, therapist

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Categories Covid-19, Health, New beginnings, Resilience, Save the World, Self-care

Dig Deep.

6 Apr

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Between stimulus and response there is a space. In that space is our power to choose our response. In our response lies our growth and our freedom. Victor Frankl.

While I’m not asking you to carefully craft all of your conversations, if you’re finding it challenging being confined in closer circumstances for longer periods of time than you are used to, and conflict is causing concern, it could be beneficial to learn how to respond rather than react. Especially if you want to create a more emotionally comforting bubble to hang out in.

Choosing our response is about making sure it’s calm, considered, conscious and in line with our core values. It’s driven by wanting to get the best out of a situation for ourselves and others. Responding is more about actively taking our time to work out what Continue reading →

Tags: Choosing how we respond in a crisis, communication in confinement, corona virus emotional wellbeing, covid19, goodness influencer, Relationship rescue, Respond rather than react, therapist

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Categories Communication, Compassion, Conflict resolution, Counselling, Covid-19, Health, Kindness, Mindfulness, Relationship advice, Save the World, Self-care

Rest. Relax. Recharge.

5 Apr

If we want to live a wholehearted life, we have to become intentional about cultivating rest and play, and we must work to let go of exhaustion as a status symbol and productivity as self worth. Brene Brown.

Rest is when we shift from deliberate and effort filled thinking, to a more effortless, playful, peaceful, aimless wandering and daydreaming state.

Rest lowers our heart rate, stress and shoulders.

One of the most interesting things about rest is that it’s usually about carving out a wee chunk of solitary time, versus relaxing, which is able to be done in the Continue reading →

Tags: caring for yourself in lockdown, corona virus emotional wellbeing, covid19, goodness influencer, how to manage isolation, rest, restoring balance, therapist

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Categories Covid-19, Health, Mindfulness, Self-care, Self-love

The Wild Calms A Child.

4 Apr

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Our backyards are a natural source of wonder, with no electrical sockets in sight.

Gather up your child/children. Make sure to ask their imaginary friends to join you in the backyard, otherwise known as the wild, where you can

run faster
jump higher
squeal louder
lay out a blanket to read fairytales
paint rocks
search for frog princes
draw with chalk
make a walnut bed for Thumbelina
bug hunt
chase butterflies
make play dough food for a pretend picnic
find shapes in the clouds
plant a magic beanstalk
go on a scavenger hunt
create a sellotape nature bracelet

…and my favourite of all, make a magic petal potion where you gather, mash, mix, stir and sniff and turn into any creature you wish.

Let the wild rumpus begin!(Thanks to my beloved Wolfie for creating my day by day images.)

Tags: covid19, entertaining kids in lockdown, family fun, goodness influencer, magic potion, outdoor activities for children, Play, therapist

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Categories Fairytales, Frog Prince, Inspiration, Jack and the Beanstalk, Raising children, Thumbelina

More Kindness. Less Judgement.

3 Apr

Do right. Do your best. Treat others as you want to be treated – Lou Holtz.

Wobbly times can bring out the worst in people.

Hoarders and xenophobes is how the worst broke through, followed closely by profit motivated price hikers and reckless rule breakers. As the days pass and lockdown has many of us glued to our computers, unkind keyboard warriors are now bordering on being boringly predictable.

Whilst it’s easy to want to throw up our hands or fight back, from a Continue reading →

Tags: covid19, cyber bullies, goodness influencer, how to manage isolation, keyboard warriors, Kindness, therapist