Who Will You Choose to Be?
By Susan M Vitale
For many of us – although clearly not all – the last few weeks have provided a slower pace, a lessening of required tasks, and an invitation to reframe our lives. With it, we’ve been acclimating to a new normal that can at times feel agitating, uneasy, and hopeless. We might experience episodes of despondence, anxiety, fear, and anger.
In the posts and activities of my friends and family, and in myself, I’ve noticed a tendency to cope with the tumultuous feelings by cramming the unexpected space in our schedules with more doing – to fill the new emptiness with more action. Our desire to “do” overwhelms us, and before we know it, we are taking a web-based class, creating virtual happy hours, live-streaming fitness programs, baking bread (ironic combo, these last 2!), writing a novel, deep cleaning our homes, fixing those dozen things around the house we’ve been tolerating, reading the great classics, or tackling a challenging puzzle. While none of these is a bad pursuit, it’s our affinity for action that makes me curious, during this time, when we also have the choice to consciously rest, reflect, and restore.
I’ve wondered lately whether this pandemic has offered us a reset button on our lives, whether we asked for it or not. The opportunity to reset is profound, really — This chance to truly look at our lives, priorities, purpose, relationships, and so much more. For those who are on the frontlines of this battle, it might not be as generous an opportunity for quiet reflection, but it certainly provides ample evidence about how your life’s outer work aligns with your inner self or when you need reserves of energy, confidence, or strength, where to start digging. Those of us at home, hunkering down as a new and unfamiliar storm grows and rages around us, are offered a different kind of reset. And the process begins with mining for our best selves to determine who we will be as we ride it out.
For me, I am working to be more…
Compassionate…remembering that everyone faced struggles before this crisis and the magnitude of those may be magnified by it.
Gentle…with myself and others, using a light touch because emotions are raw, fears are heightened, and moods are fluid.
Flexible…as everyone is adjusting at their own pace to this reality, which itself changes moment by moment.
Patient…because the gears that spin this globe have both mercifully and vexingly slowed.
Peaceful…even when the urge to rage at the injustice is overwhelming, because there’s really nobody to blame for it.
Present…knowing that nothing I worried about 3 weeks ago measures up, and plans or fears about the future don’t serve me, so all I truly have is now.
Confident…that I have the reserves mentally, physically, spiritually, and emotionally to see this through.
Strong…because the people around me deserve my strength when they’re questioning their own.
Grateful…because no matter how tricky things get, there’s so much to say thank you for.
Generous…with my judgments, opinions, and words, as much as my time and resources, because others may have it harder than I realize.
Mindful…of every moment because each holds an opportunity to choose between my lesser self and the person I aspire to be.
Who will you choose to be?