“An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behaviour.”
Victor Frankl, ‘Man’s Search for Meaning’
From a psychological perspective, reactions to the Covid-19 lockdown are fascinating and this crisis presents a huge opportunity for you to learn more about yourself. I would like to help you come out of this stronger than you were when it started.
Ironically, some people have not just adapted to the new situation but have found it to be a great relief. Others are desperate for things to return to ‘normal,’ to go back to the way things were. For many of us, it is a mixture of both. How do you feel about it?
Either way, for many of us, being at home has been a rude but wonderful wake-up call that our lives were too busy before the lockdown. Parents who saw their children only at the end of the day for a brief period, when they were exhausted, now get to spend more time together. Many of those who hadn’t been in touch with friends for months on end now have weekly Zoom sessions. Some are making brave decisions they perhaps wouldn’t have before – to leave toxic relationships or careers they found stifling.
As a result of the changed situation, some of my clients have expressed fear that if things return to ‘normal’ they might not be able to keep up with the pace, the long commute, having less time with family and all the juggling responsibilities that was required. We have been asked to adjust to a situation of extremes. All or nothing is never good, we need balance.
When faced with adversity we must use it as an opportunity to learn, to progress and to flourish. People are incredibly adaptable and just as we have adapted to staying at home/working from home, most of us will probably return to the ‘normality’ of our lives more or less as they were before but hopefully with greater awareness, more empathy, balance and calmness. The level of resilience we have exhibited over the last two months is a direct result of how mentally fit we were before it all began.
A resilient person is one who is strong enough to be able to bounce back quickly from life’s hardships.
Compassion based resilience is about using kindness rather than pressure to build your mental and emotional strength. Unfortunately, we have been conditioned to believe that resilience and bouncing back means being getting on with things regardless by being hard on ourselves. No matter how hard or easy the COVID-19 crisis has been on you so far, your experience is valid so showing yourself compassion if you are afraid will help the fear to soften. Being hard on yourself usually results in creating more pressure, anxiety and stress which is counterproductive.
I am delighted by the large influx of new subscribers to my limited FREE offer for the online programme, The Positive Habit and am truly grateful to those of you who have donated; it truly does help you to value the course. If you register for it please be sure to follow it as it will really help you. I continue re-listening to the hypnotherapy audios from the programme every single day and they really are helping to keep me calm and present. Please do spread the word far and wide to friends and family.
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