3 Secrets To Practicing Calm Love During Coronavirus

Want to be your best self right now? Here's why and how to be a rock star in times of stress.

The coronavirus outbreak is a real opportunity to get wrapped up in panic and feel overwhelmed. But it's also an opportunity to practice calm love.

There's a lot being written right now about taking our stress levels down a notch. Celebrities are falling over themselves on social media to post inspirational quotes (and yeah, that was a massive fail, Miranda Kerr.)

Whale music is probably going to be a thing again.

And meanwhile, mince meat is now more of a luxury item than triple truffle brie. Whacky.

So let's talk about some concrete things that can really be helpful now to reduce anxiety—and why it totally matters.

"It’s an important time to pause and check in, and see if your behaviour, my behaviour, our behaviour is something we're actually happy with and proud of, and if it's coming from a place of calm love," says Matt Lavars, head trainer at The Coaching Institute.

"We’re going to get through this. The economy will recover, for example, and this will become something of the past at some point.

"And when we get to that point it’s important to look back at how we were with each other. How you were with the people you're responsible for.

"Did you act in a way you're proud of? It's important to do our absolute best to be on the right side of history."

This is what you need to know: when we look back, you want to be able to say, "I lived my values. I was the person I'm proud of."

It's easy to feel that you need to look after yourself first—survival instinct, is that you kicking in?—but if you're a coach, if you're studying to be a coach or you're curious about being your best self, "this is a real opportunity to lead the way," says Matt.

"To demonstrate how we can be grateful and take care of ourselves and others and lead with calm love."

A really strong way to think of it is 'them and us'. Nobody wants to be the crazy person in these times. There are people panicking when there's just no need. They're overreacting and going into survival mode.

Don't be that person.

"Calm love and coping shows you're coming from a place of kindness for others, and that's what will make you feel great later," says Matt.