Have you ever considered the fact that along with the scary stuff, there are many good lessons that this crisis has taught us?
We are, undoubtedly, living tough times. Theย COVID-19ย crisis has hit globally, and itโs officially a pandemic, a term to show the global and collective impact the virus is having in our world. A situation that is bringing up several emotions:ย anxiety,ย stress, uncertainty, frustration, andย fear,ย just to name a few.
The American Association of Psychology (APA) has already issued severalย tipsย on how to protect our mental health during these troubling times. Many of these include: filter the content we consume (both from official news sources and social media), staying in touch with our loved ones, keepingโas much as possibleโa stable routine, among others.
However, Iโve been thinking a lot about what we can gain from this experience. Observing all the responses, attitudes, and behaviors this pandemic is evoking, I canโt help but wonder: what is this trying to teach us? What transformation can this crisis spark? What type of teachings underly this crisis?
Here are five things Iโve thought of so far:
1. An opportunity to slow down.ย
Many of the countries that have presented a coronavirus outbreak are taking several measures to promote social isolation and prevent contagion. Measures that include closing schools and promoting remote work.
This type of behavior is forcing us to slow down. To take a minute to think about our health, our wellbeing, and stay at homeโan attitude that I think many of us need in this โautopilotโ society and era we are currently living in.
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2. An opportunity to be creative.ย
Many of us are dealing with a challenge toย work from homeย or have our kids at home while we try to answer e-mails and get stuff done, or online teach at our schools and universities. This challenge can represent an opportunity to practiceย creativity. To become resourceful and find clever ways to approach and solve this problem. If it werenโt for this situation, for example, we wouldnโt develop technological orย collaborationย skills that are so needed in this 21st century.
Want to know more about how you can be more creative? Read 5 Simple Habits That Will Make You A Creative Genius
3. An opportunity to become less self-centered.ย
In the past couple of years, Iโve noticed an increase in people caring about their mental health and personal well-being. An important attitude that can help us develop a healthier and steadier society.
However, due to the rapid technological advances and โrush hourโ collective attitude weโve all embraced, we often neglect thinking inย our communities. In our neighbors, in other people. This type of situation can give us an opportunity to steer away from a โyou vs. meโ stance and embrace a โyou and Iโ perspective. A perspective that can allow us to tackle this problem, together. As a whole. As a family. As a team. As a country. As a collective.
Want to know more about how you can be less self-centered? Read 15 Random Acts Of Kindness You Can Do While Social Distancing
4. An opportunity to become more mindful.ย
The simple yet powerful suggestion of 20-secondย hand-washing has already forced me to become more mindful about my body and what Iโm doing. It forces me to payย attentionย to the here and now, to bring my full attention to my behaviors and to my daily activities. Something that, maybe, without this crisis, some of us wouldnโt be able to practiceย otherwise.
5. An opportunity to practice gratitude.ย
In times of crisis, thereโs no phrase truer than โyou donโt know what you have until youโve lost it.โ The things we are craving right now (company, freedom, friends, gatherings, sun, nature) are the precise things we should always feel grateful for. This type of situation allows us to take a step back and truly thank those activities, people, and situations that we might be unaware of how powerful and valuable they are to us.
During this time, remember to practice all the preventive measures to take care of yourself, as well as others. Talk to your loved ones, laugh often, do what feels good for you, and find safe spaces to express how youโre feeling. If handled properly, this crisis can spark many transformations in our livesโboth individually and collectively.
The ongoing pandemic has shaken the world to its core, and everyone is petrified of everything that is going on. But, every cloud has a silver lining. This crisis has shown us what actually and truly matters. Being more grateful, living simple, taking a breather now and then, all these things are what will help you live a fulfilling and happy life.
If you want to know more about the lessons that this crisis has taught us, then check this video out below:
Written By Mariana Plata
Originally Appeared In Psychology Today
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