The world has turned upside down. This is unchartered territory and it can feel overwhelming, scary, and out of control.
Last month’s newsletter was focused on how fear can stop you dead in your tracks (check it out here, if you haven’t read it or you need a refresher: https://helenkosinski.com/3-tips-to-kick-fear-to-the-curb/) Little did I know that soon after the newsletter was sent out, things would change dramatically here in the US, sparking massive fear. The 3 tips from last month’s newsletter — collect data, find a way to shift your mindset and make a plan — are all things you can do to reduce your fear.
What’s really different about this situation is the social distancing. For example, in the recent past, if you were struggling with something (e.g., a career change, a personal challenge), you would carry on with your normal routine. You’d go to work, get together with friends or relatives, go out to lunch, work out, etc. Today, this pandemic has changed all that.
Nothing feels normal about self-quarantining at home, even if logically you know it’s the best thing for you, for those you love and for humankind. For now, this will be the new normal.
As you consider this new normal, you may feel it is something that has been forced on you because of a pandemic. What if, instead, you looked at this new normal as a rare opportunity? For example, you may have the chance to:
Reconnect with the people who are closest to you (e.g., your significant other, your children, your cat or dog).- Do things you never seem to have time to do (e.g., do a puzzle, play a game, read a book or spend time in nature).
- Tackle a project that has been put on the backburner for eons.
- Learn something new (e.g., a webinar tool that allows you to have face-to-face conversation without leaving your home, meditation, that software program you purchased last year).
- Be present and appreciate all that is still part of your new normal.
A new normal can come in many shapes and sizes. They can be forced on you, like this one has been. And, sometimes, a new normal is a result of growth and change.
You can fight the new normal, tooth and nail. You can stay scared and stuck. Or, you can look for the silver lining and embrace the new normal. The choice is yours.
