“I believe that after the storm passes, we shall see a rainbow; but I also believe that when the storm passes, we must build something new.” —Nancy Salmeron
“Something I know for sure is that change is the only constant in our lives,” I told my husband when he mentioned that he could not wait until things got back to normal.
He was referring to the coronavirus pandemic. Just like me, he has been missing his old life. He wants to see his friends, get back to work like he used to, go to Home Depot, and not stand in lines and wear masks. I told him that he should stop desiring to get back to normal, because life as we once knew it no longer existed.
He laughed and asked, “What about your optimistic views of life?”
I told him that accepting change is not being a pessimist. I said, “I believe that after the storm passes, we shall see a rainbow; but I also believe that when the storm passes, we must build something new. We will build by first accepting that damage has been done and recognizing that things will never be the same.”
I said that when state orders to stay in place, social distancing, and wearing masks were no longer in effect, many individuals will still apply them.
“Why is that?” he asked.
“Many people have been left traumatized. Everyone may not want to shake your hand for a while or maybe ever again. Many people will not want to gather in public places because a world pandemic is a traumatic experience. People are coping with different types of loss. Some people are dealing with the loss of loved ones, others with financial loss and loss of stability. We shall overcome, but life will never feel or go back to what it was before this pandemic. Furthermore, you need to welcome change. You need to embrace change and not fight it. Life will be more pleasing if you do,” I offered.
He laughed and said, “You may be right, Coach.”
“When have I ever been wrong?” I joked.
Change, taxes, and death are definite constants in our lives. Change is part of our everyday life. Unless we seek change or it finds us, often we do not feel change because it is subtle. Today, I want to talk about how to cope and welcome change in the time of this pandemic. Following are some tips on how to embrace change during the COVID-19 pandemic to feel less anxious and overwhelmed about your future.
Recognize and accept that change is part of life.
There is no such thing as an absolute constant. Everything is always changing, and if you accept that nothing stays the same forever, you will be more likely to overcome unexpected obstacles that show up in your life. Take a moment to look back at your life. Then come back to the present moment. Do you see how much things have changed? During this pandemic, it is especially important to accept all the changes that are happening and everything that will come.
Do not try to reject or push change away. Embrace it and create new life experiences.
It is normal and understandable to want to fight change. Change is hard. It is hard to learn and adapt to something new. Change may be hard, but it does not have to be bad. Yes, give yourself time to grieve the loss of life as you knew it, but then let it go. Do not see change as something bad that is happening to you; think of change as something different and beautiful that is coming to you. With change, there may be a new opportunity or something new to learn about yourself and others. This world pandemic may change the way you interact with others, but it may bring more patience and compassion into your life.
Accept that change brings situations that are beyond your control.
The coronavirus pandemic reminds us that change is part of life and beyond our control. You may have been under the illusion that you had control over everything in your life and have now come to the discovery that this was not the case. This may make you feel vulnerable to life and the world. Once you surrender and trust that you can handle anything that change brings, you will be free.
Do not wish for life to be the same.
Were things truly working for you before the coronavirus, or were you simply complacent and existing in your life? To better handle life’s changes, you need to stop wishing for things to be different. You need to stay present and experience what is without the desire for life to go back to normal.
This world pandemic has reminded us that we never have control over what happens in our lives. But it has affirmed that we do have control over how we react to the changes in our lives. The coronavirus is showing us that we need to slow down, reflect, and let go of the illusion of control. This life-altering experience has brought a lot of anxiety and fear to many of us, but it can also bring a sense of vulnerability and peace to our lives. It has made me value the simple things in life and made me want to get closer to my family and friends. Let me close with a quote from Socrates on how to better adapt to change. The Greek philosopher said, “The secret of change is to focus all of your energy not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” Are you willing to conquer change by embracing it and not fighting it? Until next time, Believe. Change. Become.