Actively engage in humor, playfulness, curiosity, and joy-intensifying strategies like experiencing awe, practicing gratitude, and creating through music, prayer, singing, poetry, or art, as these are essential for facing hardships.
Give yourself explicit permission to connect with hope, joy, and celebration, recognizing these emotions are not frivolous but fundamental components that enable you to cope with and face difficult realities.
During difficult separations, establish weekly rituals that foster connection beyond conversation, such as listening to music together, watching a movie, or dancing simultaneously in separate locations, to maintain hope, energy, and intimacy.
In times of extreme uncertainty, shift from long-term life visions to smaller, temporary visions for the moment, as this adaptive approach can help you navigate immediate challenges and avoid feeling stuck.
Recognize and accept that you can hold conflicting feelings simultaneously, such as fear for a loved one’s safety while also respecting and admiring their difficult choices, rather than trying to force alignment.
Permit yourself to connect with deep feelings of love, missing, and longing for your partner, even if it feels scary or makes you feel less strong, as this connection is vital for your own emotional well-being and relationship.
Establish a routine of daily online meetings, alternating between family sessions with children and one-on-one time with your partner, to maintain connection and intimacy during separation.
Openly share your own difficult days or fears with your children, as this can create a safe space for them to express their struggles and prevent them from feeling isolated.
Focus on living one day at a time, creating a daily schedule of tasks to complete, and ending the day with family conversations to share experiences and find moments of peace and humor.
Recognize and fulfill your partner’s specific emotional needs, such as the need for compliments or words of affirmation, even during difficult times, as these are crucial for their well-being and connection.