Finding energy in challenging times

As I’ve shared, we at the Ross Collective are hosting workshops to fit your needs. We have some off the shelf, like our Grant Proposal Writing class, but others that are tailored to fit your culture and way of doing business.

Recently, we were in the first few minutes of one of these Grant Proposal Writing courses when I had sent students to small-group breakouts. I use this so the students can meet each other and share something about a project they would like to get funded.

One student, Carolina*, remained in the main Zoom room. Her camera was off. “Can you hear me?” She asked.

“I can hear you,” I said. “What do you need?” I thought she was confused about the assignment.

Then I noticed that Carolina’s voice was breaking. “We just found out that my aunt in Texas died of COVID.” I could hear that she was crying and barely able to speak. “I don’t think I can attend class right now.”

“Of course,” I said. “Don’t worry about class. We’ll record the class session, you listen to it and I’ll send you the assignment later in the week.”

So many of us are Carolina right now: Grieving and suffering and trying to tread water.

We are working with nonprofit leaders who feel overwhelmed with the suffering they see around them – illness, job loss, evictions and food insecurity.

We are working with team members who feel survivor’s guilt that they still have a job and are struggling with increased demand for their services and a smaller team.

We are watching kids struggle with the isolation and disconnection of online school and missing the social experience of being kids.

So many of us are homesick for the sustenance of the many face-to-face communities that we were part of before COVID: Religious communities, office co-workers, friends coming to our houses or meeting us at restaurants, meeting with colleagues in cafes, and meeting clients in real life.

We experienced the relief of an election in which almost 80 million people voted for a presidential slate that affirms democracy as well as the discouraging fact that over 70 million Americans voted for a presidential slate that affirms racism, environmental destruction, and authoritarianism.

This is hard.

If you are struggling with loneliness, overwhelm, anxiety, or grief, we’re sending strength and compassion through this e-mail to let you know that we see you and you are not alone. This is an incredibly tough time!

We’ve recently made some commitments for our work; the first one is to “Stay Centered.” Staying Centered is an active process that includes exercise, meditation, writing, and reaching out for support in this challenging moment. Whether on an airplane or on the frontlines working to prevent COVID, we need to put on our own masks first! Staying Centered includes acknowledging that we all held a different vision for 2020 than what it has turned out to be and acceptance for what is.

A few days later, I got another note from Carolina. She completed the homework assignment. She’ll be attending the next class session. She’s working on getting a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and has tremendous determination, despite obstacles and challenges, to achieve that goal.

I’m inspired by her determination and the determination of so many local and national leaders who are showing up to build or strengthen organizations that serve their communities.

This is heroic.

Despite the challenges, I see incredible energy and persistence. I see life force. That’s what brings people a sense of meaning and purpose and creates change.

In this hard time, I encourage you to dig deep. We’re all tired of the pandemic and sheltering in place. We all have our set of challenges.

But I hope to you feel the same hope that Carolina has in the effort of working towards better days. She has inspired me, and I hope to help you, but, what do you need to do to connect more to your life force?

TRY THIS:

• Assess: How are you and your team doing at finding energy now?

• What challenges are you experiencing?

• What do you need to do to support your work?

• How are you finding moments of learning, growth, and life force?

*Not her real name.