Which of these are you?
🤷🏼♀️ A. This virus and the means to control it is just overblown media hype: “This is a sham, a hoax, a travesty!“
🤷🏼♀️ B. This virus is the precursor to Armageddon, the end of the world as we know it:. “Close everything down until 2025!“
🤷🏼♀️ C. I wish we knew more about Covid-19. I don’t want to spread the virus, but I can only wear a mask and social distance for a little while longer.
I’m definitely C. I don’t want to get sick, but if I don’t see my sister soon, this girl’s gonna lose it.
But, I’m not a medical doctor, biohazard specialist or a politician, so my opinion on this whole thing doesn’t really matter. What does matter is that this shutdown doesn’t psychologically scar us for life. Some days I feel like I’m just a teensy baby-step away from full blown psychosis. So, I did a little research and found 3 ways to prevent a quarantine breakdown.
- 1. Empower Yourself with Acceptance
You may not realize that you are right, smack in the middle of the grieving process. For the last month, your entire way of life has been stripped from you. Don’t underestimate or belittle the depth of how that makes you feel. But, here is the good news: just the act of accepting what “is” and how it makes you feel is incredibly empowering. Feelings can be scary, but they are your body’s way of telling you that something is off.
If you fear your own anger and heartache, feelings can seem like a flesh-eating beast that would be best ignored. But, suppressing one’s feelings doesn’t make them go away; that sneaky beast always finds a way to escape and make itself known. The only way to move uncomfortable emotions on and out of your body is to acknowledge them and let them dissipate.
.
- 2. Don’t Isolate Yourself with Hatred
Researching this virus ’til our eyes bleed has led some of us to believe certain things about its origin, how it is spread, how well or poorly the response was handled, etc. You must remember: not everyone will agree with your findings. Don’t further isolate yourself by harboring hatred or spewing it at a neighbor with opposite beliefs. Stand up for what you believe, but do it with kindness, understanding that the object of your rage may be fighting something internally that you are unaware of. Plus SCREAMING a message is not usually as effective as whispering it.
- 3. Remember The Good Things That Are Happening
Don’t get so focused on the pandemic that you forget that there are still good things happening. Great changes come when we feel uncomfortable, and this virus has caused me to stretch into territories I would never imagine.
About a year ago, I was asked what my hobbies were. As a mom, I’ve taken care of others for so long that I had no idea what I like to do myself (yes, that is sad). 6 weeks at home will change that. I now have 6 hobbies, things I love to do! They bring hope, reminding me that there is a big world out there waiting for me to conquer it when this is over.
6 weeks at home also go a long way in home projects, upgrades, organization and gardening. My house has never looked better.
All this to say: don’t lose hope. Try to celebrate the little things. Everyday miracles abound for those seeking them.
Remember: eventually, this too shall pass!
ughseriously.com 