NOW is a very anxious time, isn’t it? Covid-19 is real, dangerous, unsettling and upsetting. However, at the heart of mindfulness is an awareness that one can change one’s perception of the present. Mindfulness boldly states that it cannot change your reality, but it can change how you experience your reality.
Staying with Covid-19, one important question is how we frame this threat into our well-being, without being complacent or naïve. How can we be sensibly resilient, without putting others or ourselves at risk?
I would suggest we need to frame Covid-19 into a balanced and hopeful scenario: Let’s share the grief of those that have suffered personal loss, but let’s celebrate that there are tens of thousands of uneventful and ignored successful outcomes. (At least 158,688: we do not know the actual numbers, as only the reported cases whereas the most unfortunate outcomes are certain and discussed). Let’s manage the infodemic of sensational media coverage which neglects positive news as it doesn’t sell, and let’s mindfully limit the amount of Covid news coverage we digest daily, as it can numb both our immune system and our perspective. Let’s seek out distractions that are engaging and that show the positive side of humanity. Let’s investigate our spiritual side and see if it can provide us with some peace and serenity. Let’s be generous, kind and charitable to others. Let’s be grateful for what is going right in our lives. Let’s express our gratitude and compassion to those we love. Let’s be entertained with stories that have joyful and optimistic endings.
Notice all the LET’S do this or that. That’s mindfulness in action. By deliberately framing and re-framing our present experience with encouraging and inspiring possibilities, we become more hopeful and our natural resilience grows. And if your positive emotional reserve is running low, use gratitude and charitable thoughts and actions to refuel your tank.
Remember 40% of our present well-being is determined by intentional thinking, so adjusting our attention about the Covid-19 virus will certainly improve our well-being and spirits.
Reflection Source: www.Smallercup.org
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