Deep Peace Podcast

In this episode, we talk about the importance of developing your own creativity. Whether it’s a hobby, a project, or a larger purpose, the important part is that you engage with whatever is naturally emerging in your life that brings you joy.

In this episode, we talk a little bit about what we’ve been feeling this week in the States with covid-19 out of control and political foolishness at an all-time high. 

In this episode, we talk about how we’re both working on doing the hard work required to take charge of our mental health and to feel good. Libby comes to the realization that she needs to manage feelings of anger and frustration while making time for deeper rest and creating space for emotional healing. Gaye talks about how she is planning on refining her ‘feel-good’ lists full or self-care, health and home priorities while watching the news less. And we’re both working on being less of a dick online and not reading the comments.  In summary, we’re both just trying to get through—however imperfectly. Resources and links for further study/investigation linked below. If you liked this podcast, be sure to tell your friends about it and share on social media! If you’d like to support our work, our cashapp code is $deeppeacepodcast.

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In this episode, we spend time talking about the importance of having habits, routines, schedules and structures throughout the day in order to deal with the psychological difficulty of this moment. 

Mental Health Resources & Resources For Further Study

S1E5: The Phycological Impact of Quarantine and How to Mitigate It

Today on the podcast we’re talking about the psychological impact of quarantine and how we can think about addressing the feelings we’re going through while also tending to our mental health and tending to the plight of others.

This is a time of immense uncertainty and change. Meanwhile, in the US cases of COVID-19 are continuing to go up, and our quarantine is turning into something that’s a year-long ordeal. Some people may have been expecting this, to others this might be coming as a surprise. And depending on where you fall on the socio-economic ladder, your age, your health, and where you live, this virus and the accompanying quarantine may be hitting a lot different.

As we hold space in our hearts for all of the feelings and emotions that are coming up, we can look to scientists, researchers, psychologists, and a bunch of other really smart people for how to deal with both our feelings and our stress.

Tips for Mitigating Quarantine-Induced Stress:

· Make sure you have adequate resources and supplies. Get organized with your pantry, medicines, healthcare information, and any other ‘supplies’ you need.If you are under-resourced, how can you get what you need? Don’t be afraid to ask for help, utilize mutual aid networks, or find government-funded support.  If you have more resources during this time than others, consider giving and spreading them around to those in need. It might not be just money that you have to give. If you have time, expertise, knowledge, skills—how can you put those to use and help others by giving what you have freely to those in need?

· Reduce boredom by getting creative or finding ways to divert yourself. You won’t feel like doing your normal hobbies when you’re depressed or anxious. Just pick them up anyways. Set a timer for 15 minutes or turn on a Youtube video or playlist, and tell yourself you will just work on it for as long as the playlist, video or timer lasts. By the end of your short timer, you might just feel like continuing on in your creative groove. If you don’t, at least you spent 15 minutes not thinking about the stress of quarantine or the trauma of racially-motivated violence. Pay attention to your moods and your mental state. Feeling anxious? Look for ways to down-regulate. Feeling low-energy or down? Look for ways to up-regulate your energy. Not familiar with these terms? Google them and find tactics that work for you to regulate your mood.

· Reactivate your social networks online. Use the tools at your disposal: Zoom, Marco Polo, Instagram, Phone Calls, Virtual Meet-Ups, Webinars, Etc to reconnect with your friends. Get creative. Find new ways of socializing online. Instagram lives, virtual meet-ups or bookclubs, group movie-watching, etc. What would be helpful to you? Identify that and investigate ways to replicate that experience or feeling online.

· Focus on altruism. The depressed or anxious brain is a naturally selfish brain. Subvert this by actively thinking of how you can be of service to others. From racial justice issues to mutual aid networks, there are so many people out there right now who need your help, your time, your resources and your gifts. Finding how to share these with others will give you a natural mood-boost, in addition to diverting you from you own struggles. Bonus: in the process of trying to feel better about yourself, the world gets a little kinder too.

Article: The psychological impact of quarantine and how to reduce it: rapid review of the evidence.Published Feb. 26, 2020

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S1E3: Books and Writing Tools I am Enjoying Right Now

Spent this episode switching it up and talking about some of the books, writing tools, podcasts and other things I am loving right now. For those of you wanting to learn more, here are links to some of my (un-sponsored!) endorsements.  

Writing Tools, Stationery and Planner Supplies I am Loving (Libby):

· Stalogy 365 A5 Notebook: https://amzn.to/319cqgi

· Stalogy ½ Year A5 Notebook: https://amzn.to/3i1POEe

· Staedtler Set of 10 Fineliner Pens: https://amzn.to/2CxEG1K

· Staedtler Set of 10 Ballpoint Pens: https://amzn.to/3ex9fTu

· Staedtler Set of 10 Rollerball Pens: https://amzn.to/2YuK8ed

· Staedtler Set of Highlighters: https://amzn.to/3fSbgKf

· Kikki-K: https://www.kikki-k.com/us/home

· Notiq: https://notiq.com/

· Cloth and Paper: https://clothandpaper.com/

Books I’m Reading (Libby):

· These Truths, Jill Lepore: https://amzn.to/2A1FfQx

· The Business of Being a Writer: https://amzn.to/3ev4NEE

· Antagonists, Advocates & Allies: The Wake Up Call Guide for White Women Who Want to Become Allies with Black Women, Catrice M. Jackson: https://amzn.to/31fXlts

· White Spaces, Missing Faces: Why Women of Color Don’t Trust White Women, Catrice M. Jackson: https://amzn.to/2A4MfME

· The Becky Code: How to Deal with White Woman Violence While Amplifying Your Joy, Catrice M. Jackson: https://amzn.to/3i3iM74

Podcasts I’ve Been Listening to (Libby)

· Ghost of a Podcast: https://www.lovelanyadoo.com/ghost-of-a-podcast

· What’s Your Sign: https://whatsyoursignpod.libsyn.com/

· All My Relations Podcast: https://www.allmyrelationspodcast.com/

· Queen Fancy Plans and Things: https://www.listennotes.com/podcasts/fancy-plans-things-radio-queen-lYzLkWHQ_XB/

· Oprah’s Super Soul Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/oprahs-supersoul-conversations/id1264843400

· Hello Somebody: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hello-somebody/id1513745000

· Support Senator Nina Turner with her Hello Somebody Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/hellosomebody

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Check out our website: https://deep-peace.org/

Libby talks about the things that were helping her get through the first wave of the pandemic and the quarantine. This naturally evolved into a conversation about how sometimes when we are really grieving, we don’t always do the things we know to be helpful because our brains are processing trauma. She talks about how the murder of George Floyd and the Black Lives Matter protests have changed her, and about how she is approaching anti-racism work as wellbeing work. She ends with some readings from James Baldwin, Bryan Stevenson, and a call to action for every person listening, especially every white person, to bring forth their grief and their medicine to this movement so we can begin dismantling systemic racism in our society and in our culture.

Resources/Readings Mentioned: 

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Libby talks about why we’re starting the Deep Peace podcast again, Father’s Day, George Floyd, and the quotes and mantras that we’re holding on to right now.

In this episode, Libby talked about navigating the difficulty of this moment, where we are facing the heaviness of a global pandemic, a recession, and a global uprising against systemic racism. She recorded this podcast on Father’s Day, 2020 and held space for those for whom Father’s Day might be a more difficult topic.

She also talked about a very dramatic shake-up in the planner community that has revealed some pretty alarming gaps in judgement at the leadership level of two mainstream, mass-culture planner brands. You can read the original article that prompted this discussion here: https://easyreadernews.com/mira-costa-high-class-of-2020-forges-new-tradition-from-pandemic/

Quotes That We're Holding On To:

· “The world is violent and mercurial--it will have its way with you. We are saved only by love--love for each other and the love that we pour into the art we feel compelled to share: being a parent; being a writer; being a painter; being a friend. We live in a perpetually burning building, and what we must save from it, all the time, is love.” – Tennessee Williams

· “And may we follow these instructions of the Buddha: "Others will kill. We shall not kill. Thus we should direct our hearts. Others will be cruel. We shall not be cruel. Thus should we direct our hearts. Others will speak falsely. We will speak what is true. Thus we should direct our hearts.

· “NEVER GIVE UP

Unsponsored sponsorship: Things We’re Liking:

· Stalogy A5 Notebook: https://amzn.to/3eyu6ph

· Cloth and Paper A5 No Rings Agenda Cover: https://bit.ly/2Z7D6ex

Follow Deep Peace on Instagram! @deeppeacepodcast

Follow us on Goodreads! https://bit.ly/deeppeaceongoodreads

Check out our website: https://deep-peace.org/