In my last post, I asked if this time—of corona, of crisis, in this bizarre state of the world—is a time to take it easy, or do more.
It seems as though time has slowed waaaaaaaay down. Most of what used to be normal in our lives has stalled to a trickle or completely stopped, the consequential uncertainty creating an excellent breeding ground for fear and anxiety.
You might be the kind of person who tackles this by spurring into action.
You might stack your to-do list. You might try pushing yourself to accomplish goals. You might make plans for the future of your business, your finances, your family.
Or, you might be the kind of person who is unable, or finds it unnecessary, to do more than the bare minimum. Taking a shower and getting food on the table might be your hard-won victories for the day.
You might be angry, frustrated, unsettled and unsure how to deal with the little things in the context of this thing that is bigger than us.
Whatever you do, don’t underestimate your emotional well-being. Especially now.
Go ahead. Take stock of where you are. Your resources. Your attention. Your responsibilities.
But take stock of your emotional bandwidth too.
Acknowledge your fears. Meet with your anxiety. Check in with yourself to see how you truly feel, without judgement.
Making yourself feel better might not seem as important as solving your problems or what all you accomplish, but how you feel absolutely affects everything you do.
If you make space for fear and anxiety and not sink inside them, I guarantee that—if you pay attention and observe instead—life will offer you lessons of immense value before this crazy time passes.
Whether it’s writing in a journal, meditation, going for a run, baking a storm in the kitchen or painting a storm on paper, do what it takes to stay as calm as you can while facing your reality.
You cannot control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond, and ultimately, this is what makes all the difference.
It took me a long time to understand that accepting what is doesn’t mean giving up, or that going through tough times doesn’t mean giving up joy, or your sense of self.
Is this a time to take it easy, or do more?
The answer: both.
As things unfold (crisis or not), it’s time to take it easy on yourself, and do more of what helps you move forward.
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