As expats and repats, we are used to coping with uncertainty. I remember a number of times while living abroad, when I felt as though my life were totally in the hands of other people. It did not feel good. And I vowed to never let that happen again.

Famous last words.

Because in a strange way I feel the same today. Why? Because the big issues that influence the fabric of our overall lives are all in question. We all are living with uncertainty in terms of the future of businesses, careers, education, family/social connections and health.

Truth is, there is a lot of life we are all missing. For me, some are the simpler things, like walking my dog in my favourite country park or at the beach. Others are more emotive and difficult to think about, such as when will I get to visit my parents who are both over 80 and isolating at home and my brother and his family, who are abroad? I know around the world, many family annual reconciliations are now threatened.

It is tough, and yet five weeks into physical distancing in the UK I do feel I am adjusting. I am over the shock, I think. I am enjoying my daily, albeit more restricted, dog walks. I am taking time to review business, to do online exercise classes (thanks Ryan and team) and build courses I have been meaning to do for years (online of course!). I am getting to spend a lot of quality time with my immediate family; my husband who usually travels and lot and my teenage daughters who are always so busy and active. We have created a new kind of normal and some element of certainty around our day to day, thank goodness for my kids online schooling!

So, we are adjusting to a new kind of normal – albeit temporarily, and learning to live with that underlying uncertainty regarding our longer term futures.

And if I am honest, it is a constant work in progress. Each day brings different thoughts and emotional reactions.

In this podcast conversation I speak to Vivian Chiona, from Expat Nest, a child, adolescent and health psychologist. We talk about coping with uncertainty and adjusting to the insecurity of this new reality. Vivian shares:

* The typical reactions people are having to this time – can you relate?* Her recommendations to help us cope with anxiety and stressful reactions to this situation.* The three areas of challenge that Vivian sees expats grappling with in normal times.* Suggestions for coping with them now.

Download the Show Notes HERE

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‘Writers Retreat’ the ad said. I envisioned blue skies and crystal-clear waters on some remote island. Sadly, thanks to current requirements for physical distancing, the retreat was taking place online, hosted through Facebook.

I hesitated. Did I need more Facebook? Did I really want to commit to two weeks of having to write – something – every day?

This was one week into ‘lock down’ and I knew I needed something to get me focused, to wrestle me away from the endless scrolling, the hopeless searching for better news as I tried to wrap my head around this new reality.

I joined and found myself writing every day. Sometimes it was free style, ten minutes of a brain dump first thing in the morning, other days it was writing content for blog posts, articles and social media.

Some days I imagined, with practice, I could become a half decent writer; on others I was convinced I was boring my audience and myself into oblivion.

But gradually, I let myself go. I let myself write what I meant. I cut the fluff and cut to the core and to my surprise found my voice.

A more concise voice. Clarity. It was cathartic and strangely therapeutic.

Writing is a fantastic way to express our inner most thoughts, to convey important messages, to share, to discover and uncover.

And we can do it for ourselves – or for others. That is our choice. And at times like this, when our minds are running wild, full of a multitude of thoughts, fears, hopes and concerns it is a way in which we can off load or download and then move on feeling lighter, freer and strangely wiser. After all, where writing is concerned,

‘We are all apprentices in a craft where no one ever becomes a master’

Ernest Hemingway

In this podcast, Jo Parfitt shares her passion and enthusiasm for writing. She talks about:

* How she has built a career and portable business out of writing.* The benefits of writing, even if no-one else ever sees it.* The four reasons for writing content that is worth sharing.* Resources that you can use to inspire your writing.* How you can get started.

Sign up to receive the podcast newsletter and download of full show notes from this series HERE

Download the Show Notes HERE

Resources and Help from Jo Parfitt

* Try Jo’s speed writing event on a Friday afternoon HERE* If you want to write your story, go and take a look at Jo’s Life Story Jar HERE* Also, sign up for Jo’s newsletter HERE.* Go to Summertime publishing HERE for free help on writing,

Over the past weeks I have been asking myself a few questions about the impact of this current pandemic on my teenage daughters. As their Mum, my immediate reaction is to want to downplay the situation (if that’s possible), to smooth their paths, t protect and keep things as normal as possible.

Then I realised, I am looking at it all from my perspective, and thinking I need to protect them from what I see, when in fact their perspective is perhaps very different.

I see the broad impact on the economy, the health service buckling, deaths, risk and impact on business, income and lifestyle. All the negative nightly stuff.

They of course are aware of all of this, but it is set within the context of their lived experience and developmental stage. And so, I find myself asking:

* What does this experience look like from their perspective and life view?* What do they need/want to know about what is happening and what do they not?* How can we best support them in a way that matches their needs, not ours.

If you are wondering about the same things, then this conversation will give you some ideas for how to approach and manage this experience within your family.

Carolyn Parse Rizzo is a coach and a Certified Child Life Specialist. This means she has worked with tweens, teens and young adults in a hospital and educational setting, helping them to make meaningful connections, positive choices and create coping strategies in a developmentally appropriate way. In the hospital setting, Carolyn has helped prepare children of all ages and their parents for surgical experiences.

The profession of a child life specialist started in a medical setting but can be transferred to help children, tweens, teens and family’s times of any stressful or traumatic life event or situation.

So, it translates well in our current situation with Covid-19 pandemic. In this conversation Carolyn and I talk about:

* The different developmental stages of children, tweens and teens and the impact this has on their need and ability to understand challenging situations.* The four different coping styles and how they are expressed.* How understanding our own, and our children’s coping styles helps us to interact in the most appropriate and effective way.

Download the Show Notes from HERE

Other Related Podcasts:

* Calming Troubled Water: Strategies to Help Parents Support Their Children in Troubled Times: Episode 5: Elizabeth Gillies HERE* Supporting Children Through Educational Disruption: Episode 1 Fabienne Vailes HERE* Finding Our New Balance in Uncertain Times: Episode 9 Daniela Tomer HERE

About Carolyn Parse Rizzo

Carolyn is an ICF-Certified Coach and Yoga Teacher, as well as a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS).

Through

my business, I support international assignees and their partners to create professional

and personal success abroad. So, you can imagine, as this current crisis erupted,

borders began to close, and planes were grounded, I began to wonder what the

future for my business would be? Is now the time to dig deep and keep on keeping

on, or should I be thinking about pivoting. And, if I did pivot where would I

pivot too?

I

know I am not alone in these thoughts. Many businesses are facing similar questions

and are being put on hold, employees furloughed, waiting to see what unfolds.

But what if waiting is not what we should be doing?

What

if freezing means we will miss out on important opportunities as the future unfolds?

If

you are a business owner who is wondering what to make of all of this, and would

like a more upbeat, action orientated approach then this conversation is for

you.

No,

it is not blindly positive. Or insensitive to the true challenges many are facing at this

time.

It

is a conversation based on the experiences of past crises, crises, that are now

encouraging a proactive and courageous approach to future business planning and

development.

Amel

Derragui, is a business and marketing coach and founder of Tandem Nomads.  

In this conversation Amel shares:

* Her take on the current crisis and challenges businesses are facing.* The three things that you may need to pivot in your business.* Why you MUST be strategic in all you do, especially in your offer of free support.* Why going online should be a part of that strategy* Amel’s story about the creation of her warrior mindset

‘In times of crisis, remind yourself, even if you’re in business, it’s a time of creation – go deep and create!’ Amel Derragui

To keep up-to-date with all the podcast news, show notes and resources go HERE to sign up for the Thriving Abroad Together Newsletter.

Download the Show Notes HERE

About Amel Derragui

Amel is a

business and marketing coach, speaker and founder of Tandem Nomads. She helps

entrepreneurs across the world grow a successful portable business, focus and

simplify their processes with a strong vision and marketing strategies that fit

to their resources and goals.

After

a career in advertising and branding in major agencies, such as the Publics

Group, Amel left her job to join her husband abroad, founded her first

consulting company called, Blink and C and kicked off her entrepreneurial journey

while moving from country to country.

Image re free webinar

* You can learn more about Amel and Tandem Nomads HERE

* You can register for her free webinar: How to Attract Clients and Communicate in Uncertain Times

Video of conversation between Louise Wiles and Elizabeth Gillies

Download the full show notes for this episode HERE

Keep up-to-date with podcast news via the newsletter HERE

We

all deal with stressful situations in different ways, this is something I have

known and understood professionally for years, but now, confined in close

quarters with the ones I love most in the world – it is something I am experiencing

day to day, and I suspect I am not alone.

Around the world families, including expat families, are spending a lot of ‘quality’ time together.

Tempers

may be fraying as parents juggle work, home-schooling and entertainment duties,

and kids/teens try to adjust to a life far removed from their norm of school or

university. Parents who are struggling may be asking ‘are we getting this

right?’ and ‘how can we better support our kids through these challenges?’

Of

course, as parents we want to support our children/teens in the best possible

way, but it’s not always easy to know how best to do this – especially when we

are all grappling with the immediate consequences and longer-term uncertainty of

how things are going to play out.

In

this conversation, Elizabeth Gillies, an educational psychologist provides

helpful strategies, calming guidance and great approaches for supporting our

families through these challenging times.

In

this episode we discuss:

* What causes anxiety and

stress, and how we can learn to manage it.* Why emotions matter and

why sweeping them under the carpet won’t do!* How our expat

experience of change and transition can help us cope with the more challenging

times.* Strategies for dealing

with worries – even the tangible, very real ones.* How to build a healthy

mind.* How to teach children

about emotional contagion and mental flexibility – Elizabeth shares some great

books, ideas and resources.

Download the full show notes for this episode HERE

About

Elizabeth Gillies:

Elizabeth is an Education Psychologist based in London who has worked in schools as a psychologist at the individual, group and systems level for 30 years. She has been fortunate to live, work and raise her family in America, Japan and Australia so, unsurprisingly, she is interested in identity, belonging and transitions.

Currently Elizabeth has a private practice and works in schools and with families, mainly in a counselling therapeutic role and as a trainer of school staff and parent workshops. Recently Elizabeth completed a Master Practitioner Diploma in Cognitive Behaviour Therapy, an approach that can be effective in supporting young people and their families to understand and manage anxiety and depression.

Together with a great group of professionals in London, Elizabeth is growing a multi professional support services called Special Networks and can be fou...