Coping with COVID-19
The current coronavirus pandemic continues to cause immense suffering all over the world. Never before has the power of compassion to uplift and sustain ourselves, our loved ones, our frontline workers, and our communities been more clear. To help serve these needs, FACE has created this space to foster overall wellness by highlighting the compassion-driven work of our partners and allies in public health as well as resources to aid in self-compassion and self care.
Stories of Compassion
A few of our friends and colleagues describe why compassion is so important during COVID-19 and beyond. Their stories illustrate how people can come together even in these difficult times, and how approaching our work with a lens of compassion is more important now than ever.
Kenya Casey
Associate Director, Office of International Support, Health Programs, The Carter Center
How has looking at your work through a lens of compassion helped during the COVID-19 crisis?
“We’re doing evacuations of our expats out of some of the countries. Some of them are able to get out; we’ve had some people get stuck in transit…Understanding the challenges and frustrations that they’re experiencing and assisting with the lens of compassion I think has been extremely helpful to decrease the amount of stress that people may experience when thinking about exposure to the virus, thinking about wanting to get to their loved ones and so forth and so that’s one area – assisting those who are trying to get home from their overseas positions.”
Iyabo Onipede
Intercultural Development Consultant, Facilitator, Speaker, and Emotional Intelligence Coach
How has compassion impacted your life during COVID-19?
“I have really stressed expressing, to myself, self-compassion. I tend to work a lot, put a lot of stress on myself and I’m trying to be ok with: ‘Well I didn’t do all the cleaning and the spring cleaning and reorganizing of the entire house that I wanted to do and I haven’t yet written that bestseller book that I want to write during this time of COVID-19.’ So just having that self-compassion that, ‘wait a minute, there is something really big going on.’ Your expectations of yourself far exceed what your capacity is right now.”
Learn More
To learn more about the immense potential of compassion in addressing harms and fostering well-being during COVID-19, we invite you to engage with some of our partners in global health on compassion in healthcare during times of crisis.
Learn About Compassion in Action
Compassion in Action- Webinar Series | The Schwartz Center for Compassionate Healthcare
Part of fostering compassion is extending self-compassion, especially during periods of prolonged stress. The following are ongoing resources to enrich mental health and cope:
Check-In with your Mental Health
Preserving Mental Health During the Coronavirus Pandemic | Global Health Institute, Emory University
Practice Gratitude
Practices for Grateful Living | NOW: A Network of Grateful Living
Meditate
Free Daily Meditation | Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics at Emory University
Hone Resilience Skills
Improving Resilience: Practical Self-Care Skills | Charter for Compassion
