Here´s what I do in times of crisis

belly dance bellydance creativity crisis empowerment here´s what i do inner power joana love oriental power saahira saahirah survival thriving

From my window, I see the Atlantic ocean. It´s beautiful.

I can also see the emptiness of the street, the cars that stopped passing by, the neighbors who refrain from leaving the house. Just like I do, just like most people in Europe do, right now.

The Corona Virus hit the world and with it comes a series of QUESTIONS we never dared asking. I´m a firm believer in the flipside of the coin. Meaning: every challenge carries an opportunity and every crisis has its perks if we decide to see it and use it that way.

I´m not going to lie - it´s scary, over here, and I don´t want to make things look prettier or easier than they are. This is for real. People are dying; Italy´s still in a complete lockdown; nobody knows how this pandemic is going to unfold. We´re forced to flow with what is, take precautions (aka personal & collective responsibility) and trust the Unknown.

I hear friends, students, colleagues, and family complaining about the quarantine, the lack of freedom, the fear, the not knowing what to do with themselves and the free time which has suddenly fallen on their hands.

Here´s what I tell them: go inside (as, within), create, rest, connect, love. A world that is constantly complaining about the lack of time doesn´t know, after all, what to do with time.

Crises and challenges aren´t new to me. As an adventurer who´s always followed her - exotic, out of the box, crazy unorthodox - dreams, I know a thing or two about it.

And that´s why I´ve decided to tell you WHAT I DO IN TIMES OF CRISIS.

Here we go:

1. I focus on Quality breathing.

A conscious, slow, grateful breathing practice that makes me feel grounded, focused, embodied (in my body), stable.

Breathing more, slower, deeper, and more consciously has helped me innumerable times. I know it can help you, too.

2. I do my Daily Meditation practice.

I´ve been doing it for the last two years and it has changed me and my life. I mean it. There are loads of APPS, free and paid, available on the internet. Get one, start today.

3. I Work (more focused than ever)

Take this time to focus on your most important work, the one you can do from home. If you work online, like I mostly do these days, just keep doing what you usually do with the bonus of increased focus (not leaving the home = more productivity).

4. I Create.

For me, that means dancing, choreographing, writing, painting, singing with my man (he plays the guitar), creating content for Joana Saahirah´s World community.

5. I Give.

Many artists have offered a bit of their work during the Quarantine. I´m joining the movement.

This Friday, the 20th of March, I´m offering the world a FREE ONLINE LIVE MASTERCLASS "How to awaken your Sensuality with Egyptian Dance".

Check the video in this blog post and REGISTER/SAVE YOUR SPOT

( Click HERE to SAVE YOUR SPOT )

For additional, free goodies, visit the FREE LEARNING PAGE available at Joana Saahirah´s World ( Click HERE to discover the FREE LEARNING PAGE )

6. I spend time with MYSELF.

Yep. With myself. Most of us don´t know what to do with ourselves, unaware that we cannot be happy and satisfied with other people if we´re not happy and satisfied with ourselves, first.

7. I enjoy the time with my man.

If you live with your family, husband/wife/partner, kids, make sure to enjoy this intimate time with them. Get to know them better, cook together, sing and dance, do a cinema session with popcorn, take a nap, do whatever gives you pleasure with the ones you love the most.

8. I study.

I´m a teacher but, mostly, I´m a student. I a-d-o-r-e learning but life´s busy and the student in me is often relegated to a second plane.

Not now. We have extra time, right? Let´s use it to complete those classes we´ve been meaning to take.

Hint: if you´re a student at Joana Saahirah´s Online Dance School, make sure you use this time to complete the classes you haven´t had the time to do.

If you´re not one of our students, yet, this is the ideal time to become one - check our available courses over here: Click HERE to discover JSODS Courses

9. I remain well informed, responsible, but calm.

It seems the world population is divided into the ones who are freaking out and the ones who don´t give a damn about the crisis we´re living - a health, economical, political, civilizational crisis.

I´m of a different species, perhaps. Not freaking out but giving a damn. Moreover, I´m respecting the quarantine and asking myself "WHAT CAN WE LEARN FROM THIS CRISIS? WHAT IS EARTH TRYING TO TELL US?"

Panic doesn´t help. Neither does negligence and ignorance.

Making the best of a terrible situation, staying healthy - that includes mental sanity -, and thriving for evolution is, I believe, a good way of going through these tough times.

10. I entertain myself.

Hello, Netflix! Hello, books I´ve been meaning to read for such a long time! Hello, courses I´ve been postponing!

11. I rest.

Ok, I must admit my weakness. Resting is not my forte. It has never been.

In fact, I´m a little ashamed to admit I have to schedule rest time on my agenda (not kidding!) and that´s what I do, especially in stressful times like the ones we´re living.

Sleep, rest, contemplation. Sing them out loud with me, please!

12. I keep connected to the world at large.

The Internet has robbed us of time, focus, and physical human connection; we can argue it has robbed our minds. And, yet, in times like these, the internet is a blessing. Use it to keep yourself informed and entertained but also connected to the ones you love - may them be family members living away from you, friends, colleagues, strangers.

There are a lot of beautiful things happening in the midst of the chaos - an increased sense of unity and human connection is one of them. Be a part of that movement - you´re IT.

Coronavirus: quarantined Italians sing from balconies to lift spirits

And this:

Heartwarming Moments Quarantined Italians Sing Together from Balconies

What about YOU, how are you experiencing this crisis?

Feel welcome to share your answers over here and to share this blog post with friends, family, and colleagues.

Let´s inspire and support each other!