The Benefit Company
Ever since COVID or what I commonly refer to as “lockdown”, I’ve expressed to others in my closest circle of friends and family my diminished sense of time. Remembering events is not the issue but sequences of events can be a bit foggy.
What month was that wedding? Was it 2020 or 2021 we went to Asheville? These and other random points of disorientation in my personal awareness timeline have persisted into late 2023.
Recently, I came across an article at The Guardian entitled, “Brain fog: how trauma, uncertainty and isolation have affected our minds and memory”. This was a welcomed bit of writing I had unknowingly been searching for to reassure myself of not literally losing my mind.
Article excerpt: “Our memories are going to be so difficult to differentiate. It’s highly likely that in a year or two, we’re still going to look back on some particular event from this last year and say, when on earth did that happen?”
Aut inveniam viam aut faciam.
It is my stubborn nature to not accept with finality any condition, state, or situation. There is always a chance, albeit sometimes less than 1% that change can everything. “Aut inveniam viam aut faciam.” If there is a way I will find it, if there is not, I will make it. This is the loose translation.
I reasoned that my brain fog about dates and time not only stemmed from the stressors of months of lockdown, whereas there was a protracted sameness about all things but also my normal habit (or lack thereof) of keeping a written planner or schedule. The article supported my hypothesis.
This was the 1% chance happening to turn on the sun that would burn off the fog in my head.
My Miracle Morning
A few years ago I read “The Miracle Morning” by Hal Elrod. Hal had suffered a traumatic accident where his brain was injured, and it tells of his pathway to recovery. Not to ruin it for you but he overcame this injury and went on to become a best-selling author. How did he do it?
Routine. Routine can often be the anchor to bring us comfort and allow us to recenter after a bout with wellness-impacting chaos and uncertainty.
Hal developed the routine S.A.V.E.R.S. to start his day which led him to author many more books, become an international motivational speaker and gain hundreds of thousands of followers on social media.
Admittedly, I started S.A.V.E.R.S. upon reading the book around 2016 but did not stick with the program. I’m the personality type that needs community involvement or other people counting on me to stay with a program.
My Miracle Morning (Revisited)
Fast forward to today and I have rediscovered “The Miracle Morning” with another chance happening of cleaning out our basement after moving into a new home. In consolidating moving boxes, The Miracle Morning literally fell at my feet.
This time is a little different because the book also has an app that is a part community and part prompts to get you going in each one of the 6 morning categories.
I’m 9 days into the 30-day challenge to follow the routine with the help of the new app and I’m pleased with the mental clarity it is giving me. Lighter fog!
Most important is I can sense a minor shift taking place in my ability to sequentially recall what happened last week. I would attribute the progress to some and maybe all of the miracle morning steps.
My S.A.V.E.R.S.
S – Silence: This practice, for me, is more about not immediately getting on my phone first thing in the morning or digesting some other triggering media and taking a pause to remind myself that I can be in control of my day. Every stimulus does not require a reaction. A moment to “be” sets the tone.
A – Affirmation: I have been using this section to in a way confirm that whatever hurdles come up that there will be a way to overcome them. Either in my own power or through spiritual means by The Creator.
V – Visualization: In my mind’s eye looking to the past, present, and future has been good for me to organize mentally the sequential events that have happened and the ones I’m striving to make happen.
E – Exercise: This portion takes on a couple of different forms for me. Some days it’s weights and some days it’s Tai Chi. Both are good for the brain in different ways.
R – Reading: I’m engrossed in three flavors of reading at this time. By reading “7 Habits of Highly Effective People” (for the third time), random articles as mentioned above, and “The Great Divorce” by C.S. Lewis over the course of a day I get variety. Variety stimulates the mind and overcomes this sameness that several researchers have attributed lockdown brain fog to.
S – Scribing: Moleskine journals have always been a favorite of mine. I’ve not journaled much but have used these books for years to take notes, sketch and write down ideas before they escape me. I’ve noticed that after a few days of consistent journaling to start the day that it is getting easier. The main benefit for me is awakening creativity. As an added mind-challenging element, I only write in cursive.
Put Down Your Anchor
There’s a lot happening in the world or at least we get exposed to a lot more of it than we once did via endless media channels. It’s easy to feel like you’re floating away in a rush of unabated winds of change. Winds AND sight-limiting fog possibly.
These experiences can be legitimate stressors. Maybe not the same as lockdown stressors but stressors are stressors, right? This protracted time in a state of stress is known to negatively affect the mind in ways we have yet to fully understand.
It is my experience thus far in my revisit to Miracle Morning that having an anchor in the form of a self-improvement routine to start the day has made a difference. I am not recommending Miracle Morning as I would not endorse any other self-help guru either.
The point I want you to take away is “self-care” is necessary (although I dislike the seemingly self-centered, Gen Y sounding name of it). Find the thing, routine, or help that will allow you to put your anchor down and not continue to live life on “sea legs”. Find your own Miracle Morning.
Do you have a routine or other way you maintain an anchor? Comment below and let us know about it!
Take care,
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