“It’s what you think and believe about the situation that will make it good or bad.”
—Nancy Salmeron
It is April 1, 2020. I look out my window and see a beautiful, blue sky with white clouds. I hear the chirping of birds. A calm breeze promises a beautiful day. And then I hear a voice from within. The voice reminds me that this is not an ordinary spring day. A world pandemic is going on and I must panic! This voice of fear has truth to tell. Yes, we are collectively living in very challenging times. People are getting sick with the coronavirus; people are dying. School has been cancelled. My family is staying at home as advised by public health and government officials. This voice, which is the voice of the ego, tells me that I must worry about what is coming. It tells me that I must go to Costco and stock up on toilet paper, hand sanitizer, and food because I don’t know how long we will be stuck in quarantine. This is the voice of the ego. Then another voice comes in. It is the voice of the soul. In a whisper, it tells me to look at the beautiful blue sky, go outside and feel the warm breeze, and listen to the birds’ sing. The voice of the soul reminds me to savor and enjoy this moment. It reminds me how blessed I am that I am healthy and that my family is also healthy. It tells me to take my time with my coffee and savor every drop. This is the voice of the soul. However, the voice of the ego argues back that this is no time to sit around and enjoy the sky and listen to the birds’ chirp. I must prepare for what is coming. Do these conflicting voices sound familiar to you?
I described my current situation. What is yours? How are you doing? How are you dealing with the world pandemic that has everybody living in fear and panic? What steps are you taking to stay physically healthy? And, just as important, how are you staying calm and being a source of optimism and love for those around you?
Today, I want to remind you about the importance of taking precautions by following the directives of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to reduce the spread of COVID-19, but I also want to teach you how to develop a healthy, optimistic mind by not obsessing about worst-case scenarios before they happen. Yes, it’s critically important and wise to follow the suggestions of the CDC to stay physically healthy. I want to remind you to take precautions by washing your hands, practicing social distancing, and if you are not an essential worker and can implement shelter-in-place, please do so. However, we also need to make sure we don’t obsess and get ahead of ourselves by projecting images of ourselves and our loved ones sick and dying. How can you do that? You must listen to the voice of your soul. You must surrender, let go, and trust that all will be well. Here are some tips on how you can do that.
Take a moment to feel the fear and the loss.
Yes, these are very sad and difficult times. Cry if you want to. Cry alone or cry with someone that you trust and love. Feel the disappointment. Let your emotions come out. It’s important to feel the fear and the loss, but don’t let it consume you. Remind yourself of the times when you overcame something that you thought you would never get over. Awaken your inner warrior who always knows the way. Trust yourself and know that you will survive this, because you are strong.
Gratitude, gratitude, gratitude.
I may sound like a broken record every time I talk about practicing gratitude in our lives, but now more than ever, you need to practice GRATITUDE. Are you healthy? Do you have shelter? Do you have food on the table? Can you shelter-in-place with some of your loved ones? If you answered yes to any or all of these questions, you have a reason to shout out your blessings. You are doing phenomenally well. Gratitude reminds us that all is well despite our current world situation. When you practice gratitude, you get to appreciate the little things in your life. Look at what you have, not what you are lacking.
Optimism is found in the present moment.
How can you stay optimistic when people are dying and the activity of the world has stopped? You must focus on the present moment. Focus on your breath. Feel the breeze. Take a moment to look at the blue sky and listen to the birds. Stay present. Appreciate the simple things. Someday you may not have them. In our current situation, our day-to-day life can change very quickly. Love what is. Love and savor that cup of coffee. Love and appreciate every moment that you get to experience without fear, doubt, and anxiety.
Surrender to what is happening and let faith be the light.
One of my favorite prayers is the Serenity Prayer. It is: “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” In our current situation, applying this prayer can help. First, you must accept what is happening. Don’t waste energy wishing it was different. Don’t fight it. Accept it, and even welcome it for the positive gifts it might bring. Second, have the courage to change what you can, for example, by implementing the suggestions of the CDC. Lastly, let it go! Surrender and trust that your God, the Universe, knows what is best. Trust that you can overcome anything and everything that God and the Universe have in store for you.
Shakespeare once said, “Nothing is good or bad but thinking makes it so.” Yes, these are very challenging times. Some won’t make it through alive. Many more difficulties are coming, and we need to take precautions to not get infected with this deadly virus. We can’t control what happens outside of ourselves, but we do have control over how we react to it. What you think and believe about the situation will make it good or bad. This is where your power lies and where you will discover your true voice, your essence. Face and feel your emotions, welcome those fears, and then remind yourself that “It’s what you think and believe about the situation that will make it good or bad.” Count all of your blessings, no matter how small. See the light at the end of the tunnel by immersing yourself in optimism. Surrender and accept what is, and give faith a try. Beautiful, don’t forget how strong and wise you are, and remember that “this, too, shall pass.” Stay healthy. Stay positive. Stay blessed. Until next time, Believe. Change. Become.