As you experiment with new ways of doing things in this new life configuration, apply what the prison residents do incredibly well: awesome innate human ingenuity! It’s amazing to observe the creativity that shows up when we do not have access to needed or usual resources. Here are some stories for your inspiration.

Invitation: When you get stuck, allow this to be the door into more creative ideas, Innovative solutions, fun outcomes.

This is part of a series. You see, on April 1st, I realized that I have a unique perspective into confinement thanks to my past 4.5 years engaging several times a week with the world's leading experts on confinement: prison residents. For the month of April, I will provide a daily lesson learned in prison that will hopefully help us to survive and even thrive while confined to our homes. Go forward and back to enjoy each daily lesson.

One of the challenges of this confinement - and prisoners’ confinement - is the loss of control. They and we can get overwhelmed by what we cannot do. We see all the things we could do effortlessly a mere three weeks ago that now feel inaccessible.

When these feelings creep in, focus on what you can control and do. Regardless of the situation, there will always be at least one thing that you do control and can do. Do this one thing and then allow it to be the door into other possibilities.

Again, in the video are stories from the residents and examples of people moving past the constraints of their current confinement to find the things they can do. Enjoy!

Invitation: Easy. When you feel overwhelmed by what you cannot do, find the one thing you can. And do that. Let the rest unfold from there.

This is part of a series. You see, on April 1st, I realized that I have a unique perspective into confinement thanks to my past 4.5 years engaging several times a week with the world's leading experts on confinement: prison residents. For the month of April, I will provide a daily lesson learned in prison that will hopefully help us to survive and even thrive while confined to our homes. Go forward and back to enjoy each daily lesson.

There are times in our lives which define who we are. THIS is one of those times. Most likely more than any other time in our life. This is an identify shifting time.

We’re meant to grow through this. We’re meant to receive a gift through this. This is not meant to destroy us. It’s meant to build us. And it all depends of we’re going to allow it to create the elements for it to build us!

Just like prison, where, as the residents release their destructive lifestyles to step into a new definition of themselves, they face an identity shift that is unfathomable to most of us.

AND they li-ter-a-lly face possible death. It’s a life and death decision.

They choose to release all that has defined them. All that has made them who they are. All that has mattered to them.

How we move through this season will define who we are, how we show up in the world, how we thrive and how we serve others. It's time to step into your real brilliance!

Invitation: If you wish to show up on your brilliance, check in with yourself: Do you have the courage to release or undo parts that you hold dear, parts that define you, parts that matter to you, parts that define your value, status and position in the world? This is what this season asks of us, so that we may grow into something even greater.

This is part of a series. You see, on April 1st, I realized that I have a unique perspective into confinement thanks to my past 4.5 years engaging several times a week with the world's leading experts on confinement: prison residents. For the month of April, I will provide a daily lesson learned in prison that will hopefully help us to survive and even thrive while confined to our homes. Go forward and back to enjoy each daily lesson.

When things get heated in our teams of prison residents, they pause the conversation or argument and invite everyone to take a deep breath. It's amazing how just one breath can create the space to start recognizing the difference between the realities we're creating and the deeper truth of what's likely going on.

Do not be fooled by the simplicity of this tool!!

Invitation: Find a way - via an app, anchoring to the day’s activities, in partnership with a family member - to regularly throughout the day take a deep breath. And then simply observe the changes in you.

This is part of a series. You see, on April 1st, I realized that I have a unique perspective into confinement thanks to my past 4.5 years engaging several times a week with the world's leading experts on confinement: prison residents. For the month of April, I will provide a daily lesson learned in prison that will hopefully help us to survive and even thrive while confined to our homes. Go forward and back to enjoy each daily lesson.

In prison, the residents go through phases during which they realize the realness and the permanence of their situation. Imagine coming to grips with

• Their wrong choices, including those that landed them in prison

• Missing their kids growing up

• The life events they’ll miss: birthdays, Christmases, weddings, deaths, funerals

• The hurt inflicted on loved ones, victims and so many others

As one resident moved through his dark phase of coming to greater grips with his life-without-the-possibility-of-parole sentence, he became the "gold standard" in dealing with the dark cloud and struggle of accepting a negative situation.

Learn what he did and what you can emulate in the above video.

Invitation: Assuming you have not been hit by a dark cloud yet, take this week to practice the actions highlighted. It’s often easier to practice when we’re faced with a “mole hill” before having to implement them when hit with “Everest.” And if you’re hit, then practice the actions with a lot of grace for yourself and others.

This is part of a series. You see, on April 1st, I realized that I have a unique perspective into confinement thanks to my past 4.5 years engaging several times a week with the world's leading experts on confinement: prison residents. For the month of April, I will provide a daily lesson learned in prison that will hopefully help us to survive and even thrive while confined to our homes. Go forward and back to enjoy each daily lesson.

It's my birthday!!! And while I would have preferred hosting a bunch of friends and family over as I love to do, I can't. This doesn't stop me from celebrating.

Here again, prison residents have shown me that my circumstances do not dictate my celebration. They know how to get creative! And find replacements for rituals, like blowing out candles.

In addition to redefining how we celebrate milestones, let’s also take a moment to recognize the power of also celebrating the daily small steps. Milestones are a collection of successful small steps. The journey to the milestones is not only a lot more fun, but also a lot more easeful, when it’s sprinkled with regular acknowledgement and celebration. We recognize that whatever the outcome, we've done the best we can. This is worth celebrating!

Invitation: How have you celebrated yourself today?

This is part of a series. You see, on April 1st, I realized that I have a unique perspective into confinement thanks to my past 4.5 years engaging several times a week with the world's leading experts on confinement: prison residents. For the month of April, I will provide a daily lesson learned in prison that will hopefully help us to survive and even thrive while confined to our homes. Go forward and back to enjoy each daily lesson.

Yesterday, I realized that I have a unique perspective into confinement thanks to my past 4.5 years engaging several times a week with the world's leading experts on confinement: prison residents. For the month of April, I will provide a daily lesson learned in prison that will hopefully help us to survive and even thrive while confined to our homes.

Today, acknowledging the fear and anxiety we likely have all felt over the past days and weeks, I turn to prison residents to learn from them.

When they first arrive in prison, prison residents are often stuck in believing that their situation is happening TO them, which creates a victim mindset.

Some, at a point in their incarceration, realize that their situation is happening FOR them. Hidden in the constraints, negativity and violence of their daily struggles are opportunities and gifts.

Watch the video to hear how prison residents shift their perspectives.

So, I ask you, is your current situation happening TO you? Or FOR you?

My invitation: Every day, take a moment to capture all the ways the current confinement has worked FOR you. Similarly to a gratitude practice, this is best done as a family, or written down in a journal.

Please do share the gifts and opportunities this situation is creating FOR you.

This is part of a series. You see, on April 1st, I realized that I have a unique perspective into confinement thanks to my past 4.5 years engaging several times a week with the world's leading experts on confinement: prison residents. For the month of April, I will provide a daily lesson learned in prison that will hopefully help us to survive and even thrive while confined to our homes. Go forward and back to enjoy each daily lesson.