pandemic aftermath – one step forward
As life in a pandemic aftermath moves forward, we begin the first phase of discovering a new normal. Within us are mixed emotions swirling around; excitement in those first steps out the front door, but fear of the uncertainty that looms just beyond our reach. Dealing with the consequences is inevitable; many people do not know where to start. It is overwhelming. An article on News Break this morning, reported that suicide is up 700%. I am not surprised but reading the words still made my heart cry out, “Don’t lose hope”. I just want to shout it out to everyone, on a global megaphone. As long as we have hope, we have a really great shot at getting through this. And the really amazing thing is, that on the other side of this storm is a rainbow. There is ALWAYS a rainbow on the other side of struggle, I mean ALWAYS.
a foundation of hope
Hope brings your anxiety, back to a manageable state. To generate a foundation of hope, you must get intentionally quiet. Be still. Go inwardly with closed eyes and an open frame-of-mind. Look inside your heart where fear lives. Talk to yourself in a loving, supportive way. You can handle one day at a time. Breaking down uncertainty into smaller pieces of time takes immense pressure off of you. Begin to view uncertainty in steps. What can you do today, to tackle the obstacles before you? What are the things you worry about that are for another day? Concentrate on those things you can control. It is alright to work on one thing at a time. The road out of this insanity is meant to be a journey. It is in this journey you develop resilience though you may not realize it until closer to the end, near the rainbow.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” – JOHN 14:27
pandemic aftermath – walking down a new road
Without a foundation of hope, you easily become paralyzed worrying about whether you can pay your bills, feed your children or regain the status of employment you had before. You then become overwhelmed and unable to make healthy decisions. Let’s face it. Chances are pretty strong that you will not regain the status you had before this pandemic but that does not have to be a bad thing. If you work this recovery road correctly, you could be in an even better position. Either way, you must move forward. Why not mindfully move forward with the perception that the process is developing coping characteristics inside you like hope, gratitude, love and strength? With these superpowers, you inevitably will be in a better position than before the pandemic. It is a choice. It is your choice. Choose wisely. Your future depends on it.
embrace fear – use it for strength
The bottom line is this; how we respond to this pandemic aftermath will determine the state of our future. Building on our character, with a mindset of experiencing new possibilities rather than looking to restore old reality, moves you into a better place. The challenge is that our innate tendency is to hang on to our insecurities, fear of failure and resentment of the struggle. It is what we do. But we have the ability to change our focus. When your insecurity rears its ugly head, you can change what you are doing and thinking about. Take a walk, listen to some positive meditation or dance to a beautiful song. Dealing with that fear? Realize that fear is the fuel that creates creativity and possibilities. Embrace fear but only long enough to use it as fuel to consider the opportunities for success. Take your ideas to Google and explore.
change your perception
Yes, we start the phase of claiming our lives back. Our first instinct is to panic but we have control over our fear. Find your direction in your quiet. Take time every day or many times a day, to get quiet and mindfully work through your anxiety replacing each negative thought with a sustainable idea. Consciously begin to change your perception of doom and gloom to exciting possibilities. Set a timer on your phone reminding you to take time out of your day for loving quiet for yourself. Work inside your faith for even more rewarding results. Keep hope alive by reading or watching personal development videos.
“No matter what struggles I come across, I will keep going, because I have the will and strength to overcome it all. All my greatest accomplishments, I once thought I would never achieve, but I keep on succeeding every challenge that faces me. No matter what is beyond my control, nothing will ever make me less than a woman. I am and will always be a powerful woman.” – VICTORIA ENRIQUEZ
Many years my friend, many years...