The things that matter most in our lives are not fantastic or grand. They are moments when we touch one another.” Jack Kornfield
The world has literally been turned upside down. As of today, there were 14,619,746 COVID-19 cases reported worldwide. Currently, the number of deaths stands at over 608,000. The past several months have drastically changed just about every aspect of our lives. Everything from the way we learn, work, travel, interact and even love. In so many ways, it feels like we are grieving a life we once lived as we struggle to adapt to a new normal.
The coronavirus has restructured our personal relationships in ways none of us could have ever even imagined. Last week, I visited with a friend and her husband. We hadn’t seen each other since the beginning of the pandemic and we welcomed the chance to catch up. However, we sat outdoors, six feet apart and did not greet or hug each other. To me, this was the hardest part. It is really ironic how we are not allowed to hug each other during a time when we need human contact and affection the most.
During these uncertain and difficult times, however, it is perhaps more important than ever to remain mindful of the present moment and find ways to manage our fears and anxieties. As Lao Tzu brilliantly said, “If you are depressed, you are living in the past. If you are anxious, you are living in the future. If you are at peace, you are living in the present.”
I know these stressful times don’t exactly feel peaceful. But the truth is the only thing we can ever master or control is the present moment. Most of us spend so much time either dwelling in memories or thinking of the future that the present moment takes a backseat. But in reality, everything only really happens in the present moment and it is the only place to find calm amidst all the distress.
Easier said than done, I know. I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t worried about my husband’s job, our health insurance or the ability to continue to pay for the steep college tuition bills our daughters have handed us. Of course, I’m worried like everyone else but I’m also grateful and mindful. It is important to remember that happiness is not a place, it is a state of mind. No matter what is going on in the world around us, we have control over our thoughts at all times. How we think matters. How we respond matters.
Here are some “TCC” tips to help you stay in the moment:
- Take a Step Back:
Stop, breathe and take some time to focus on the NOW. I mean really take note of the moment. How do you feel? What do you see? What do you smell? What are you thinking? Notice the colors around you. Take a moment to pause and be still. Focus on right now.
- Count Your Blessings:
Make a mental note of a few things you have to be grateful for. No matter what is going on, there is always something to be grateful for. Gratitude won’t change what is going on in the world right now but it will change the way we look at the world. In many ways, it is gratitude that helps us to see the roses and ignore the thorns.
- Choose Your View:
Our state of mind. Our happiness. Our choice. What we see depends on what we choose to look for. As we look back over the heartbreak dealt to us by this pandemic, let us remember how far we have all come. We have faced unprecedented challenges but we’ve also witnessed unimaginable strength.
An American professor named Jon Kabat-Zinn wisely said, “The little things? The little moments? They aren’t little.” He’s so right; they aren’t. It is in those little moments that we will find our greatest strengths.
josie varga 