The current COVID-19 crisis is different in many ways. These times are unprecedented in that we don’t know when our society will get back to “normal”. Not knowing exactly when the end of the pandemic will be can take a toll on families and communities trying to cope with the disaster at hand. Unlike other natural disasters and hardships, COVID-19 has prevented us from physically coming together to help cope with these uncertain times. Through these challenging times, there is one thing you can count on and that’s the Golden, Colorado community emerging as strong and resilient. In this post, we’ll provide you with a few ways to be resilient during these truly unprecedented times and show how our Golden community bands together no matter the circumstances.
Spreading Positivity
A special thanks go out to Suncrest Hospice for spreading the power of positivity by donating pizza to our hard-working staff and placing “Heros Work Here” signs around the community.
A great example of positivity in our community starts with our friends at Golden High School. The Golden High School Student Council was kind enough to create a video showcasing the power of resilience in times of crisis.
The video shows that even though we’re separated physically, we can still share positive energy and support each other through hard times. We’re thankful for such a selfless and supportive community.
Practice Gratitude
What is Gratitude and What Makes is Good for Us?
Gratitude is a beneficial pillar of well being by serving as a beacon of hope. Experts define gratitude as:
- Gratitude is an emotion expressing appreciation for what one has. It is a recognition of value independent of monetary worth. Spontaneously generated from within, it is an affirmation of goodness.
Gratitude is also perhaps the fastest and most effective way to find happiness in the modern-day. Knowing and being grateful for the family and friends around us opens the mind to a more positive mindset. The benefits of gratitude go far beyond a positive mindset. Benefits include greater happiness, improved health and memory, fewer aches and pains, better sleep, improved self-esteem, and better relationships.
How Gratitude Helps Build Resilience
In a recent study conducted by Georgia Southern University, they found that gratitude indeed can build resiliency during challenging times. According to Thriveglobal.com, participants were divided into two groups — one performed a gratitude task, while the others didn’t. Participants that underwent a gratitude intervention were asked to mindfully recall things they were grateful for in their lives.
The results of the study showed that participants who performed the gratitude task reported more emotional coping skills based on a survey, compared to those that didn’t perform the task.
Secondly, the study showed that people that practiced gratitude were more likely to encourage help-seeking behavior.
Be engaged and active
When negative circumstances arise and times are challenging, we can often lose sight of what is important to us. Take the time to consider what is important to you and your value system. The great news is that even though in-person meetings at Golden Pond are not permitted at this time, technology provides a great opportunity to connect with loved ones. Zoom and Facetime are great ways to connect with loved ones while remaining healthy and safe.
These are trying times, but they offer an opportunity to step up and help others in the community while strengthening relationships and building resiliency. Practicing the art of being open, aware, active, and engaged, when we come of this pandemic, we’ll be a stronger and more connected community. For that, we thank you!
