When talking about happiness in life, we should always focus on what we have, not the things we lack. Similarly, in the current pandemic, we may be inclined to think about the future “unknowns” rather than the things that we do know. The truth is, since we don’t know how long the pandemic will last, staying focused on the present, so-called mindfulness, is now even more important than ever.
Embrace all the emotions that come your way. Being human is a great privilege and one of the costs of being so blessed is having to deal with all the emotions that make us human.
Most of us first became aware of coronavirus just eight months ago… even though it feels much longer than that. In those eight months, we have each gone through a myriad of emotions, much the same as the five stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. We should first remember that this mental process is completely normal. We should also learn to accept our feelings as a necessary part of everyday life. Moreover, it is imperative to understand that as humans, even under normal circumstances, we are all prone to a complex range of emotions depending on the day or even the moment of the day. I believe we can all agree that the current situation is far from normal. Therefore, allowing ourselves to feel whatever we feel is not only okay, it is essential. Acknowledging the most common emotions - happiness, sadness, fear, and anger, allows us to understand ourselves better and at the same time can teach us to be more empathetic towards others.
So, the next time you are feeling happy, enjoy the moment. Savour it. Conversely, when you are feeling something other than happiness, let yourself feel it. Embrace all the emotions that come your way. Being human is a great privilege and one of the costs of being so blessed is having to deal with all the emotions that make us human. Remember that this pandemic will one day be over, and when it is, we will not only have learned so much about ourselves but will also be eternally proud of how we pushed ourselves to the limits, but we kept on going!
Wishing you health and happiness always,
Mark Tofflemire
Tailor Made Inc.