The Importance of Social-Distancing|Suspending the Life we Know

What’s the importance of social-distancing? Recently, I’ve conceded, if I don’t have control over what’s happening, then it’s time to let it go. If you read this blog, you will find that I have a thing with letting things go, so bear with me. What’s going on in the world is not good. It’s serious. The more I thought about how serious things are getting, the more my anxiety grew. I got to the point where I had to say to myself, “Get a grip.”

I now shy away from thoughts that don’t appeal to my better judgment and sense of well-being. It’s one thing to be informed, but a whole other story if you live and breathe dreadful news. Listening to the updates is important to keep safe. However, moderation is key. We take the information, process it, and do what we can.

THE WORLD WE KNOW… IS CHANGING

It’s through difficulty, hardship, and struggle when we’re challenged to go the distance to enter a transformation process. The process of renewal eventually becomes the turning point, whereby the world we know changes, and we are forced to change with it. The world evolves, and we evolve. In life, significant changes are inevitable. All one has to do is go back in time, throughout history, it’s apparent. It happens in cycles, the 60-year cycle, the 300-year cycle, and so on. 

TAKING EXTRA PRECAUTION

Who knew that the new buzzwords for 2020 will be social-distancing and self-isolation. If everyone is careful and does their part, then there wouldn’t be the need to be consumed with the unknown. But because of the unknown, and knowing that not everyone will do their due diligence, we have to take extra precautions. Preventive measures taken today will make tomorrow less threatening. Nevertheless, trying to explain to someone why they should self-isolate and understand the importance of social-distancing may fall on deaf ears.

THE SELF’S

(RESTRAINT, CONTROL, DISCIPLINE)

Unfortunately, not everyone will exercise self-restraint, self-control, and self-discipline. These are the same individuals who don’t believe that short-term pain leads to long-term gain. Restricting oneself by imposing limitations on our actions will benefit everyone in the long run. The thing is, we refuse to struggle alone. We want to share our pain, our sadness, our fears, our denial, and we want to do this in person. So we do what we know and mingle even when it’s not ok to do so. But now’s not the time to socialize. Now’s the time to keep safe.

It’s tough to overcome something when we aren’t prepared to do so, or if it falls out of our power to change it. We can’t always predict the perfect storm… like when the world we know takes a nose-dive into unchartered territory. What’s important to note is we can control our actions, thoughts, behaviors, and emotions. Instead, we hit either the panic button or the denial button. 

IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL-DISTANCING

When everything around us takes a turn for the worse, for whatever reason, what we should do falls to the wayside. This is when we fail to maintain our distance and refuse to isolate. Difficult to do, I know. We can do what’s right, or we can do what’s wrong. It’s up to each one of us to make the right choice and take the necessary precaution. Whenever we do what we know is wrong, it could be because we don’t understand the importance of social-distancing. Simple but true. 

Difficulties aren’t absent in life, and it’s during the demanding times when we are asked to play a significant part. Whatever situation we face today, we have a choice. We can practice social-distancing and self-isolation now, to usher in the freedom we so love, later. And by sacrificing our “live for today” mentality, we can enjoy a richer tomorrow. We will find down the line, what we go through at this moment, will become less severe over time because there is always an eye (I) in every storm. However, if we were to relax our efforts and do things without moderation, we may find ourselves in a more precarious state.

SHIFTING YOUR MINDSET

It’s impossible to be free from worry because there’s an uneasiness with what is taking place. But if we remain calm and focused during this trying time, we can ease the anxiety, which grows whenever we exercise wrong thinking. Tempering any negative thoughts will take persistence. During these challenging times, it’s important we shift our mindset, change the way we think, and adjust how we do the things we do. 

It’s not easy to set yourself free from outside forces that freely invite anxiety. But if you limit the stressors by guiding your thoughts, it will lead to a place of peace, which is a state of mind. This is when we tell ourselves that it’s ok to unwind and chill for the time being while the storm passes.

So how do we decrease our fears, worries, and stress during a difficult time?

• Understand what triggers the thoughts that lead to negative emotions.
• Set sensible limits on your exposure to bad news.
• Step away from what trips you up and do the things you love.
• Listen to music.
• Exercise.
• Read a good book.
• Journalize.
• Get creative.
• Learn something new.
• Try to focus on the positive things in life.
• Get a grip on your emotions by accepting things for what they are, knowing the only control you do have is over yourself. You control you.
• Exercise mind over matter.

WHAT WE KNOW

AND

WHAT WE CAN DO

• We know when we cease to fret, the tension eases. 
• We are aware of the rules and follow them.
• We practice safety measures.
• We press the pause button, so we don’t have to press the replay button. 
• We tap into a higher power by embracing hope, faith, and trust. 
• We take this time to reassess where we are and where we want life to take us. 
• We understand that before something turns around, its balance must be restored.

VICTORY THROUGH FAITH

There is victory through faith because we trust, believe, and are hopeful for a better and brighter tomorrow. Even if that tomorrow is months away or a year from now. What we need, more than ever, is for everyone to adopt a “less is more” point of view. And to not get stuck in the “live for today” way of thinking. But accepting we all have a vital role in playing safe, and believing, somewhere in the center of everything, rests a Supreme Power.

In life, there will always be difficulties and challenges to overcome. However, within due time, something wonderful happens after the storm drifts away. A rainbow reveals its beauty on the horizon. We become resilient, stronger than before, and more equipped to handle the troubles of tomorrow.