As I reminisce about 2021, the biggest challenge to my wellness was how to deal with fear.  Fear was everywhere, both within and outside of me. 

All around the world governments used different public policies to increase compliance with Covid restrictions. Many of these were based on inducing fear and anxiety in us to ensure our compliance. For example, by describing the idea of keeping distance between one another as ‘social’ distancing rather than ‘physical’ distancing implied that to be social was wrong. If repeated often enough, it did increase compliance, but it has re-wired our mindsets in the process. Result, less Covid, but also less human interaction. Loneliness and mental health issues now abound. When is the trade-off between the remedy and the condition going to change?  There is a fear tipping point!

Fear works, but it is not a good long term survival strategy.  Our fight or flight nature was designed millions of years ago to deal with significant dangers we faced in a few seconds, not almost two years.  So now as 2021 comes to an end, what are you going to do with your fears in 2022?  There are three fear strategies you can implement, being to remain as fearful as you are now, become more fearful or become less fearful.  Not addressing fearfulness suggests the current steady state; you cannot avoid this dilemma.

I am absolutely going to dial down anxiousness to below pre-2020 levels and use the last two years as a learning experience.  Let’s not waste this crisis; let’s see what can be learned from Covid.  First, I learned from personal experience and observation that being fearful, anxious and suspicious of others is enormously dysfunctional.  A society re-programmed to be fearful is hollow, judgmental and not a lot of fun.  Fear blocks out compassion; letting go of fear allows for empathy, compassion and love.  I quickly noticed that being less busy is rather calming.  Seeing fewer people but appreciating them more was an important lesson.  Not watching the late evening news does improve my sleep and dreams.  Being outside and going for walks is part of my new diet. Slowing down allows for time to focus on our inward spiritual journey, a source of awesome shalom.  I moved from a ‘live to work or work to live’ perspective to a ’live to live’ view; where I don’t define myself by what I do to the same extent as before.

Regardless of your learned outcomes for Covid, I suggest that looking at your fears as you enter 2022 is a good place to start.  Living without fearfulness, distrust and anxiety is much better for you and for others.  Looking for the silver lining of the Covid cloud can only make 2022 that much more exciting and hopeful.

May you be richly and gratefully blessed in 2022.

Reflection Source: www.Smallercup.org

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