Words of inspiration from Dawlish-based psychotherapist and life coach Jody Merelle.
I don’t know about you, but part of me almost dreads turning the news on at the moment. Covid has been a part of everyone’s life for almost two years now and just when we are at the point of starting to enjoy some of our freedoms again it feels as though we have another complicated and unpredictable winter ahead of us.
One of the hardest things is that feeling of uncertainty and not being able to make definite plans about anything much at all.
I know of trips to see loved ones which are already being cancelled and just how much pain and disappointment that is causing after an already extended wait.
None of us know yet exactly what the next few months will bring, but increased restrictions and regulations as well as pressure on staff in a whole host of industries are likely to affect most of us in one way or another.
Most of this we have no control over at all which makes it even harder to tolerate.
In this situation, rather than focus on everything we could or might be losing, one small thing we can do is to consciously focus on the things in life we are able to have some control over.
What are the things you value which the pandemic and its restrictions have not been able to take away?
It might be a hobby you can still enjoy, or certain people in your life or simply dreaming about the future, but not everything is in the hands of the pandemic and its associated restrictions.
If a holiday has had to be postponed, is there something else you can concentrate on which might bring some pleasure or fulfilment in the interim? How can you make the most of Christmas and the New Year despite any changes you might have to make to your original plans?
Even though few of us would choose to live in a world full of restrictions, there are often surprise benefits to be had if we are savvy enough to spot them.
A colleague the other day was faced with having to postpone a trip she had planned.
Instead of concentrating on the disappointment of not going, she decided to find a positive by spending a day “just for her”.
She said that normally her life was full to the brim with plans, so one of her aims was to use the time with no timetable but just walking on the beach, having lunch on her own and reading a book in the evening.
To her this felt like a day of luxury.
When situations change and cause disappointment it is worthwhile asking yourself “How can I turn this around to my advantage?”
With a bit of creative thinking you can usually find a way to spot a benefit that perhaps wasn’t obvious to begin with.
I think we can all be forgiven for feeling a bit fed up at the moment, especially as we have no real idea what lies ahead.
Concentrating on finding new ways to indulge in a bit of self-care and find advantages in an otherwise challenging situation can be one small way to help tolerate the uncertainties of the weeks and months to come.