We have been disrupted like never before.
We are now experiencing a period of what some are calling forced deglobalisation.
We can resist it, be stressed and overwhelmed by it, or we can choose to be in acceptance and work with, not against the circumstances.
The economic fallout is going to be enormous. Our governments are acting, whether you agree with those actions or not. Unlike the Great Depression, they are rolling out stimulus packages as this crisis unfolds. We can only hope they will soften the financial blow.
I was talking with a clever friend who said this forced change was a blessing for her. She felt like there was no way to get off the crazy rollercoaster that was her life. And now someone had closed the amusement park and all rides had ground to a halt. For those of us who have been so busy that we constantly lived in the future, this disruption could actually feel like a relief in some way (notwithstanding the obvious threats to our health and the wellbeing of our families).
We are being forced to stop commuting to work, battling the traffic. No longer rushing our kids around to extra curricular activities. No longer having over scheduled weekends with places to be and things to buy. All of that has been almost instantly taken away from us.
Many of us could be feeling a new kind of overwhelm. How do I pay for the roof over my head or groceries? How do I manage volatile relationships with my loved ones that I now live and interact with 24 hours a day? These are all valid stresses. These are genuine concerns. Financial stability in particular is out of many people's control right now.
If we can stay healthy, there is one thing that can help us manage through the difficulties: our mindset and the lens we see things through.
Can we find the silver lining in this very dark cloud?
If we were to look at this to see if there is an opportunity, can we use this as a time for renewal? A time to re-assess. Re-assess everything.
The one thing many of us have got back is time. I always felt like time was the real currency in our busy lives.
Now we have time to rest.
Time to unwind the tension.
Time to focus on our well being.
Time to sleep.
Time to check in on our loved ones.
Time to cook and make food to nourish our bodies.
Time to factor in exercise.
Time to go for those walks.
Time to connect with ourselves.
Time to connect with others. Despite physical isolation.
Time to be with our children in a present way. My kids are loving this. Loving that they get to spend time at home with their family. That's their safe space.
The dark cloud will pass. We will get through this. We are in it together. Take care of yourself and your community.