It may be just another morning, but unlike a year ago, I can feel the warmth of the sunlight radiating through the window. I can hear the distant sound of birds chirping. I can sense the beauty and the stillness of the outside world that I once never noticed.
There’s no doubt that this has been a long and trying year for many of us. But with certainty, there is always a calm after every storm. And as we approach normality once more, it’s necessary to re-adjust ourselves to a new and better way of thinking, feeling and being.
In a sense, much has been taken away from our lives – our ability to see and interact with our friends and loved ones, our freedom to go where we want, when we want. And for some, the certainty of our health and our jobs. But what if this is a hidden opportunity for us to change and improve?
Here are 3 things you can learn and benefit from this pandemic:
Slow Down
We live in a world where we have too much choice and are overloaded with too much information. And with technology, there are many things available to us – all at the touch of a button. But because time is still limited, you may tend to scatter your attention and do too many of the things that are detrimental to your health and wellbeing.
If you didn’t choose to slow down over the past year, then you may find that you were forced to. But however it happened, it’s been a time for you to stop doing too many things at once, and to focus on what really matters.
Reflect on What’s Important
Once the falling pieces have had time to settle, it’s important to reflect on your own life and decide what’s important for you moving forward. If you weren’t completely happy with your life before all of this started, then this is the chance to decide how you want things to change. Maybe there were people in your life that drained you and you need to move on. Or similarly, maybe you’ve realised that you want to make more time for the people you truly care about.
Appreciate What You Have
When you don’t have very much, you will appreciate what you have even more. A homeless person will savour each and every meal as they don’t know when they will have their next. A child with only a handful of toys will make use of and love each and every one. And a person with a few good friends will make time and appreciate the people they have in their life.
So, the next time you’re able to choose from the many options you might have had before, perhaps you’ll appreciate the simple things more and think twice about what you thought you needed to make you happy. Because it’s not the things or even circumstances that create happiness, it’s how we perceive the things we already have in our lives.
To find out more on how you can learn simple and effective ways to improve your health, your mindset and even your relationships, visit:
