Slow Down And Reassess Your Priorities
“Even in the grave, all is not lost.” ― Edgar Allan Poe
How are you coping at the moment? What are your chief concerns? How are you dealing with it? Even though we’re living in tenuous times, it is important we check in with ourselves regularly. People cope in different ways, some better in stressful conditions, while others internalise their stress. We ought to deal with what is affecting us, instead of repeating the patterns of the past. Whist the pandemic may appear bleak at the moment, it doesn’t mean it will be permanent. Mankind has faced many challenges throughout history.
Regrettably, many people will succumb to the virus and their families and friends will be affected. It is tragic when people lose their lives to a disease beyond their control. But we mustn’t live in a constant state of fear because what we dwell upon may come to pass. We should focus on taking the smallest step to secure our dreams and best future. Life will improve, there are no two ways about it. We have experienced these challenges before and will overcome them again.
In times like this, our attitude determines our altitude; how high we soar above our challenges. It is how we respond in times of crisis that determines whether we stay stuck or look for positive solutions. Man’s greatest discoveries were made during some of the darkest periods in human history. Mankind is resilient and can overcome any of life’s challenges, with the right mindset and attitude. Knowing this, what actions could you take to deal with your worries? Does it involve giving attention to your mental, emotional and physical well-being? Perhaps it requires less interaction with social media and the news, or reaching out to friends and loved ones more often?
When we take each day as it comes, we become present to the moment, rather than hope for a future that may not arrive as we expect. I’m getting the sense that this pandemic is teaching us to slow down and reassess our priorities. It is inviting us to place value on the importance of family, friendships, purpose and living in the present moment. Being grounded in the now helps us anchor ourselves to our present moment experience. It reduces the stress of living in the future, and we become grateful for each moment we’re alive. So, when things look bleak, we ought to live one day at a time and savour what we have.
Live Each Day As Though It Were A Precious Gift
“One should . . . be able to see things as hopeless and yet be determined to make them otherwise.” ― F. Scott Fitzgerald
Does it make sense that scurrying from day to-day does little to bring you peace of mind? It only compounds to the stress experienced before the pandemic. In a recent video blog titled: Although The World May Never Be The Same, You Can Still Find A New Normal, I outline five ways to find a new normal going forward. I explain that we are being invited to create a new paradigm for our future, rather than bring the old with us. This will mean letting go of how the future should be and allow life to fill us with: peace, harmony, cooperation and togetherness. We ought to think differently about how we live, otherwise we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes. As you know, this pandemic has ruined many lives and businesses, not to mention the financial burden on world economies.
So, let’s hunker down and learn the lessons instead of blaming others for the way things are. Yes, we’re all in this together because our choices impact others. For example, not wearing a face mask in public can have a devastating effect on thousands of people. This is an opportunity to look into ourselves and examine our motives, to see whether they are aligned with a new world being ushered in. So, what are you giving your attention to right now? What do you hope to create going forward? What do you want to see in the months and years ahead? Begin where you are now and live each day as though it were a precious gift, instead of lamenting how things should return to normal. The normal we once knew wasn’t working, so life is giving us the opportunity to write a new script.
Savour every moment because life has a way of turning at the drop of a hat. Take inventory of your life, no matter your age and decide what you’d like the world to look like. Your actions have a ripple effect, in ways you can never imagine. Act locally but think globally, goes the saying. So, after you finish reading this article, go back to the questions at the beginning and answer them as best you can. Check in with yourself regularly and optimise your mental and emotional well-being. After all, when things look bleak, living one day at a time opens you to infinite opportunities that you may not have seen before.
