Gratitude "Podcast" Interview: Jennifer Matthews

Hi, everybody. It's that Gratitude Guy, David George Brook, with another edition and another

guest of the Gratitude Podcast interview. Today, I've got my great friend, Jennifer

Matthews out of Perth, Australia. Jennifer, welcome to the podcast. Hi, David. How are you going? I'm doing well, I guess as well as could be

expected. As I mentioned earlier, I have several questions for you. These are the type of things

that we can maybe share with people around the world or whatever. Number one question

is what is your best coping mechanism to deal with this pandemic

Okay, well, in terms of the pandemic that we're experiencing at the moment, there's

obviously a lot of people that are being affected by it. But I believe that one thing that we

do... is our attitudes towards it. Half full, or we can look at a glass half empty. And

if you had have seen David's previous video that he did on the 10 ways to be grateful

during this pandemic, then I think you will understand that there is so much that you

can focus on outside of what is being shown on our news. Now, with me, I've got two teenagers

And so they're both at home, they're both off school. But my big thing and my purpose

in life, being a light worker is to focus on connection. And I believe us as a society

have lost that connection, not just with our loved ones, because we're so busy and we're

rushing around all the time with work, but also with ourselves. And so I think that my

coping mechanism is my attitude. My coping mechanism is to look at it half glass, half

full and realise that it is one choice that I have, is to focus on the things I can be

grateful for, and spend that extra time with my loved ones and take the time to actually

connect on a deeper level spiritually. That's a great point. And you've always had a tremendous attitude, one of the things that

makes me just love the approach that you take to things. And that's actually a perfect segue

to my second question, which is, during these uncertain times, what are you most grateful for

Oh, geez. During these times, I'm grateful for so much, actually, because I sit there

every morning, I go through all the things I'm grateful for, and I get my kids to do

the same thing. Because I think at this time, it's very easy to focus on everything happening

on the outside. But if we focus on everything that we have in our life, I've got two amazing

teenagers who are incredible. It gives me time to connect with them on a deep level

I have an amazing husband who's very supportive. He's still out working because he's able to

be. So I'm grateful that I've got him that still has a job out there that is bringing

in an income. And I'm so grateful for that. So in a roundabout way, I'm grateful for his

boss too, because his boss is supporting him at this time. But I'm grateful for the opportunity

to be able to sit down and to be able to meditate and to be able to really focus internally

and learn to grow even more during this experience. As things start to shut down and society starts

to shut down a bit, it can get very lonely. Because I'm a real people's person

I go out and socialise and be around people. I'm focusing a lot more on technological

communication. So I'm really grateful for Zoom and I'm grateful for all of the technological

opportunities we have out there. Well, that's a great point. And not only do you have that

great attitude, but you mentioned technology as I'm watching you freeze a couple of times

I'm hoping that nobody gets irritated when they watch this Zoom. It is going from Seattle

Washington to Perth, Australia. So let's cut Zoom a little bit of slack. But speaking of that

and this is where you mentioned this earlier, and I wanted to have you mention this to the people that will be watching. So how about any tips or thoughts or ideas for things to do

while you're going through this? Okay. So things to do is one thing I would recommend is to try to

avoid any negative press. We sit there, I know in Australia, the news is on almost 24 hours a day

Right. And, you know, press releases and everything else going on. And although I think

it's good to sort of keep updated on the weather, the curve is flattening. That's all I care about

is having... Right. Um, haven't had very many deaths. I know around the world there has been a lot. And I do feel

sad for those people and those families that are there. But try to avoid listening to too much

negativity. I think it's really important that we start to, like we said before, focus on the

things that you're grateful for, focus on the fact that we're still healthy, and that, you know

we're still able to function. And, and I like to listen to a lot of funny

funny YouTube videos. There's so many memes out there about it. Yeah, that's a good one. So

out there, podcasts or podcasts you really enjoy, take this time to reflect. And one

thing that I really think that we need to do during this time of being isolated

is to spend this time figuring out whereabouts your future is heading

That's a good point. Spend this time dreaming. Spend this time really focusing on, okay, well, once all of this crisis

is over, what am I going to be focusing on? People at this point are obviously stressed

there is a lot of financial difficulties going on. But there were more millionaires that were

created during the time of the depression than ever before. Yeah, millionaires ever during the

time of depression than before. And so we need to remember that there is a light at the end of this

tunnel. And there is going to be, this pandemic will be dealt with. And the world may not be

as we we've known it before. But I think we have the ability to make it even better

Well, I think those are some great points. And I think especially all of that you said were really

good. And I especially liked the part about the negative people in the news. It's 24 seven

and I understand we have to be updated and stuff currently. But at the same time, you're known by

the company you keep. And when you're hanging around with negative people, it's like one bad

apple spoils the whole bunch. So it's really be thinking about that. And I love the point too

about looking to the future. And somebody said to me, it was really a great point

it will never be the same again, it will be different as we go forward. And how will you

be a part of it? It will be different and different doesn't mean worse. Exactly better

in so many ways. Now coming into 2020, we knew that it was going to be a big year. And we also

knew that there were going to be difficulties. Yeah, but I believe that at the end of it

I think that people are going to be much more connected. I think that people are going to

bounce back from it. And I think that as a society, I think that we will

we'll, we're all in this together. Yeah, that's true. Yeah, we're all in this together. And it's

really important that we try to keep our consciousness at a high level, because that is

that is what is going to help to fight this. That's right. And so avoid the nature of the

problem is when you've got family members. Thankfully, mine aren't, my kids have been

incredibly relaxed about the whole thing. When you got family members that are stressed

yeah, they're dealing with anxiety. They and they prefer to look at the glass half empty

In that case, what I would what I would recommend is probably spending some time

by yourself reflecting and listening. With this positive stuff so that you can try to minimum from them. Yeah. And and learn to just

to just block off from those from those particular comments, because everyone's dealing with things

differently. And anxiety is rampant at the moment. And so we, we just have to try to minimize

the stress. There's so many meditations out there that have been specifically created to ease the

fear and the anxiety associated with Coronavirus. Right. So go and have a look. There's one that I'm

going to find out the name of the there's an app that you can download. It's called insight time

Oh, I've seen that one. Yeah. And it is fantastic. And there's, there's a lady on there that has

has created all of these meditations just to help the fear and the anxiety surrounding it

And yeah, and there's also a really good which is helping to raise the consciousness consciousness that's associated with this

And so it's about it's about, you know, sending the loving light out to all of the people

that are suffering with this. And, and just, yeah, and just try doing your best, I would recommend

going to insight time and download it. And if you're dealing with anxiety, there's so much

help there that you can get. That's a good one. And so kind of, I really like those points, too

So to kind of to wrap up my fourth and final question, do you have sort of a quote, or a

philosophy that kind of sustained you through something like this? So I love, and I think I, what I like to keep reminding myself is that this too shall pass

Love that. We have been, we have been through so many, we've been through the depress

the great, well, I haven't specifically, but my grandparents have, they've been through great depression. We've been through many, there's been many coronaviruses and other

viruses, the Ebola and, and all of the different ones that have been out there before

I remember when mad cow's disease was, and so like all the others, this too shall pass

and we will, we will be connected on a much deeper level. And if you just, if you just

manage to, to keep connection, if you don't have the ability and you're isolated, then seriously

turn to technology where you can. Start to Zoom your friends, Zoom your families. Don't allow

depression and anxiety to take hold of you, because at this time, isolation can be a bit

bit difficult. So really turn to, really turn to, to this sort of thing so that you can connect with

other people. Right. Excellent. Excellent. Well, thank you, my dear. That was just fantastic

So much appreciate it. And I will be connecting with you down under, I'm sure again soon

but thank you so much for being part of that gratitude podcast interview. Thanks, Jen

Thanks for having me, David. You bet