With the fourth wave now behind us and new variants threatening further challenges, there is the lingering sense the old 'normal' will never really return. the pandemic has opened to our senses a new reality. The expectation of good health, normal routines, freedom of movement and interactions has awakened us to the realization these rights, privileges and opportunities may not always be there. New restrictions are reluctantly adopted or imposed as Covid numbers dictate. Now we move forward tentatively, yet hopeful, with caution and an ever-present reminder that what we enjoy cannot be taken for granted.
It is easy to take for granted the simple pleasures around when they are readily available. Often it is when they are taken away do we reflect on the value they represent in our lives. It is prudent to take stock from time to time to refresh our memories of what is important and what we truly value. Gratitude is a benchmark attribute of well-being and so having reason to reflect on those things we missed during the self-isolation.
Unfortunately, such an event can conjure up in the mind a host of less favourable thoughts and reflections. Prolonged isolation, social distancing, and the uncertainty of what lies ahead is a seedbed for apprehension, anxiety, fear, and even depression. Our thoughts can gravitate to all kinds of possibilities and scenarios depending on where we are inclined to lean. Just as gratitude is a benchmark attribute for well-being, so fear is a slippery slide into anxiety and depression.
What awaits us is still unknown. most Canadians have been vaccinated while others are still reluctant. it is still a waiting game. This uncertainty is kindling for stress. Yet, is it the situation or how we are choosing to process the uncertainty that is the stress inducer? Recognizing where our thoughts are taking us is the first step to redirecting our focus and moving to a place where the emotional fallout of problematic thoughts are reduced. This is one of the few domains we can exercise significant control.
Fear is often generated when there is a loss of a "sense of control'. COVID 19 set in motion several measures to combat the spread of this unprecedented virus. In turn, these measures restricted our movements dramatically. Normal routines were disrupted, freedoms curtailed. Circumstances can limit our sense of control. External forces whether predictable as the tides or as random as the weather are stark reminders of the limits of our control. Acknowledgment and acceptance of the changing tides of circumstance free us from over engaging on matters over which we have little or no control.
Psychological resilience is the ability to mentally and emotionally cope with a crisis or return to pre-crisis status quickly. Accepting what is, yet hoping for a brighter tomorrow, while appreciating what one still has will help us bide this challenging period.
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