Not sure about you but I needed to focus a bit more on Progressive Pandemic Growth! It is natural (but not the most productive as I wrote in my last post) to focus on all we have collectively lost in the months since the Coronavirus invaded our lives and our thinking. I have been amazed at how an invisible element has successfully exposed the underbelly of just about every aspect of my life, my cultural systems, and the political systems globally. The virus is not personal, yet it has touched every person in a personal way.
I have a group of my friends who have a daily text stream where we share memes that help us muster up a laugh or two. Many have us laughing at things we historically said or did with great vigor. I, for one, am big into envisioning a desired future – whether it is my day or my plans for a new year. That is why the meme shown on this blog gave me time to reflect. I thought, “5 years? Heck, I did not get the last 5 months right!”
From there I need to get my head thinking a bit clearer. What I found was my desire to see how people have pivoted and where they are in their plans. Nishant Garg and his podcast is an example of progressive-pandemic growth as far as I am concerned. It also intrigued me that he began to re-write his story in about 2015!
Fast forward to January 2020, Nishant had evolving plans to start a podcast focused on mindfulness and spiritual habits that add to your life and wellbeing. Although Nishant was a successful software engineer with all the external trappings to prove it, he felt something was off. Like so many before him, he began to examine where he was to understand personal success better. That evaluation led him to meditation and mindfulness practices. Nishant’s personal increase in wellbeing led him to create a podcast. In January 2020 he had no experience in creating a podcast, a podcast platform, or a podcast audience, but that did not stop him. He started where he knew – using LinkedIn to make connections – and built his knowledge and understanding as he created his show.
By March, as the world of business was freezing in place, Nishant doubled down on his efforts. He knew his message and the expertise of his prestigious guests could help many learn about and expand their use of mindfulness to traverse wherever they were in life. The incredible library of experts that he has engaged in conversation is impressive.
Here are some of my favorites:
And yes, a little bit of self-promotion, yours truly
Why these from over the almost 100 episodes that Nishant has created since January? It’s personal. I can remember the joy I felt listening to Dr. Bolte-Taylor during her TED talk and reading her book. Being reminded that it took her 8 years — yes 8 years — to fully recover the use of her left brain after a stroke, still gives me hope. No need to deny reality, just live your life to defy it.
Then Dr. Ben-Shahar’s work and reputation in the field of positive psychology have had me cheering for years. I can still remember listening to an online lecture. He does not sugar coat what it takes to be happy, yet his research proves that you can be happy in spite of what life throws at you.
Dr. Cortney Warren has touched my mind and my heart. If you have followed me for any amount of time, you know we are spirits of the mind, even when we approach life from very different perspectives. The best part, I found out about Nishant because of the show Cortney did with him.
Reflecting on positive memories, supporting others’ work, and filling your time with inspiration material, especially on how to be more mindful, is exactly how to seed the potential for your own progressive pandemic growth syndrome.
It is nice to know we are all in this together AND I would like us to get to be all be in a major recovery together soon, very, very, soon!
See the good…Andrea
