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Does anyone else feel like they’re constantly looking at a screen? Whether I’m in online class, FaceTiming a friend, or scrolling through Instagram, I am almost always connected.
Don’t get me wrong, I am so grateful for what technology is allowing us to do these days. But, it can be overwhelming. It feels like every account that I follow has a tripled posting frequency, and there’s constant breaking news.
So, in a world saturated by the internet, I want to keep this post short and sweet. We’ve all got a lot of things to do, voices to listen to, and people to care for. But, I hope I can bring you some peace and encouragement today by sharing three quick things I’m learning in the midst of COVID-19.
Feel your feelings. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking, my current situation isn’t as hard as other people’s, so therefore, I can’t be sad. However, I’ve learned that no matter what we’re facing, we can’t move forward until we acknowledge how we feel. How are you doing? It’s okay if you’re disappointed. It’s okay if you’re angry. It’s okay if your scared. But it’s not okay to ignore those feelings. Share your emotions with someone you trust — chances are, they need someone to talk to as well.
Redefine gratitude. For the first few days of “stay-at-home,” I was honestly pretty ungrateful. I’d try to find reasons to be thankful, but it just left me longing for what I couldn’t have. So, I’ve learned to redefine what it means to be grateful. In a time of social distancing, I can’t be presently thankful for a brunch date or a spin class. But, even now, I can make the conscious choice to reminisce on happy memories with an attitude of gratitude. What are you thankful for? Ask yourself, and you may even find things to be grateful for here and now.
Practice presence. At school, I was almost always thinking about 12 things on my to-do list…it’s no wonder I was so anxious! I tried to apply this mental multitasking to my time at home, and it just left me overwhelmed. So now, I’m trying my best to be truly present in each moment. What does being fully present feel like for you? I’ve noticed that when I decide to be 100% invested in one thing at a time, I find more goodness right where I’m at. When I’m truly present, I see blessings that I otherwise would have missed.
In the midst of a disorienting month, these three things have helped me to feel a bit more grounded. I am so far from having this all figured out, but I pray that what I’ve learned will bless you in some way. Give yourself some grace - we are all learning together.