“When you come out of the storm, you won’t be the same person who walked in. That’s what this storm is all about.” Haruki Murakami
Most of us are anxious about venturing out—not only because of the virus but also because we are out of practice interacting with our fellow humans. What is different in this worldwide re-entry is that we are not alone: almost everyone is feeling some social anxiety.
This unique historical moment—social re-entry after 15+ months of social distancing—can become an internal resource when we take charge of creating an intentional narrative. The pandemic demanded adaptability and invention. What we what we did with those demands is uniquely ours. Some of us learned how to be with ourselves and felt blessed by the time to be alone; some of us felt overwhelmed with caretaking responsibilities; some of us learned ways of reaching out and being with loved ones that created “good enough” bonds; some of us felt depressed and struggled to feel hopeful: all of these responses are normal, natural, and worthy of reflection.
We typically remember challenging times unconsciously—the ordering of facts and experiences coalesces around old wounds and unresolved trauma. Our personal story of the pandemic will adhere to and reinforce that story, migrating imperceptivity into long term memory, unless we create a different story. An intentional story which highlights the pearls of deep challenge: persistence, adaptability, resilience, change, growth… the focus is on how you made it through. By intentionally focusing on your process, a story is created that empowers the self, instead of allowing our stories to be shaped by old childhood narratives of perfectionism, blame, shame, and powerlessness.
Human adaptability is a highly prized evolutionary trait; rarely are we called on to practice it in such a profound way. No matter what particular experience any of us had during the pandemic, we have survived it. We have lived a story of human adaptability and persistence. Now we can take charge of the internal narrative: like a blank canvas primed and ready we can make meaning of that experience before it moves into long term memory. A pandemic story that authentically reflects the self and gives credit for the many ways we survived—or thrived—becomes a power resource. An intentional post pandemic narrative can transform the challenges of these past 15 months into an accelerator instead of a brake.
How to take advantage of that blank canvas?
Reflection (Looking Back)
1) Devote time during the week when you are alone and ready to reflect. Think about the story you are currently creating about the pandemic in your head. Ask yourself “what is the theme of that story”? “Is that the story I want to create?” Here are a few sample questions to get you started:
- How were able to adapt to the shifting demands? How were you able to help yourself through it? How did you reach out to others?
- What was most important to you during this time? Did that change as the pandemic wore on? What was the most difficult aspect for you to deal with?
- How were you feeling during those 15 months — what shifted? What remained?
- What did you learn about yourself that you wouldn’t have without these challenges?
2) Write or record a brief story about how you adapted to the challenges of the pandemic. The focus is on YOU—how you made it through. You could make a digital document with photos, or handwritten in a journal, or small sketches in a sketch book, or a voice recording with your smart phone.
3) Read (or listen to) the story out loud every night for 2 weeks. After that, repeat the story a few times a week, just to keep it fresh in your mind.
4) No matter how you create an intentional post pandemic story, it can become a resource. Anytime you are feeling confused, overwhelmed, or frightened by the unknown you can remember your story: remember how you coped, how you changed, and how you grew during this worldwide disruption. Remembering your post pandemic story can help you face whatever challenges come your way.
BONUS
Manifestation–Making a Vision Board (Looking Forward)
A vision board is simply a visual representation of your goals. It is often used at times of change/transition or when we feel stuck.
See this article on Oprah Daily for more info: Here’s How Make a Vision Board for Manifestation.
- Collect images from magazine, internet, photos, etc… that represent the situation, events, and opportunities you wish to create in the next 4- 5years.
- Glue those images onto some kind of rigid board that can stand upright, arranging them in ways that suit you.
- Once completed, keep the vision board out where you will walk by it. Every day, stop at it and take a few deep breaths while examining it—feeling your internal agreement with your visualized goals.
- Say out loud with feeling “That is what I want!” every time you pass it.