As we enter another week of incomplete information, difficult choices and complex problems related to the on-going challenges of living with a global pandemic, we recognize now that everyone is coping from intense and long term stress. Our mental, physical and emotional health has suffered. Continued self-care is helping to a point, but we are stretched by never having closure with this pandemic or being able to feel like we have some level of control, order or predictability within our life, or the life of our family.
From experience and in consultation with others, I believe the challenge is to figure out how to maintain perspective. As a wise friend of mine said to me, “you can not deal with it when you have to contend with it.” And right now, it seems like all we do is contend with it, hour by hour, day by day. Still, if we are able to carve out some time to pause and step back from our fears, worries, and frustrations, I believe we can gain some insights and perspective.
Admiral William H. McRaven in his wonderful book, Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life …And Maybe The World (Grand Central Publishing, 2017), writes, “At some point we will all confront a dark moment in life. If not the passing of a loved one, then something else that crushes your spirit and leaves you wondering about your future. In that dark moment, reach deep inside yourself and be your very best.”
Reflecting on the above quote, ask yourself these important questions:
- When am I my best self?
- What does that look like?
- How do I act and interact with others when I am my best self?
- If I were to reach deep inside myself and act from my best self, what would I be doing differently today, this week, this month?
When we become overwhelmed, we often loose touch with our best self. Instead, we just get caught reacting to everything and everyone around us. Our life then becomes nothing more than impulsive actions within a cycle of compulsive reactivity.
However, when we pause and connect with our best selves, we can break this cycle and regain perspective. Then, as we maintain perspective, we can act from clarity, confidence and thoughtful choices.
Admiral William H. McRaven in the aforementioned book builds on this perspective when he writes, “Remember…start each day with a task completed. Find someone to help you through life. Respect everyone. Know that life is not fair and that you will fail often, but if you take some risks, step up when times are toughest, face down bullies, lift up the downtrodden, and never, ever give up - if you do these things, then you can change your life for the better… and maybe the world!”
This week, I encourage you to reconnect with your best self and to seek out ways to maintain perspective on a daily basis. It will make a world of difference in your life and in the lives of all those you love, live and work with on a daily basis.
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