There is no side-stepping the difficulties people must endure during this time. It takes grit, optimism, and a plan to get beyond setbacks.
Focus on what you can do to make your life better. The pendulum does swing, and things will get back to normal; however, it will be a different kind of normal, and it will take patience. Take this downtime to reflect, get closer to family members and special friends, and build virtual relationships.
In my effort to find something optimistic to reflect on during a time filled with coronavirus doom, I came across an article that is timely by Beverly Beuermann-King. She has done an excellent job of identifying all the important components of “Optimism,” in her article, “Being Optimistic Takes Work.”
As for me, I’m looking for ways to help family members by sharing food supplies and revisiting my sewing machine to make face masks. I am also using my self-quarantine time to learn new technologies (e.g., how to develop my Podcast, design YouTube Channels, and get creative with Instagram). Hobbies I placed on the back burner are now on the front burner to offer me another distraction. It’s important to have a sense of accomplishment! Whether it is creative cooking, enjoying a hobby, doing yard work, home-schooling your children, digging through age-old boxes of stuff, or creating new interests, it makes the day go faster and keeps you in an optimistic mindset.
Yes, things are hard! Realize that it is not just about you. It is about everyone around you! Be the example to follow by inspiring others. Avoid conversations around political points of view or other topics that are controversial and feed on pessimism. Focus, instead on news that involves “acts of kindness” and shares the “strength of the human spirit.” The human spirit is a powerful gift! Engage it to the best of your ability.
