Things are tough these days. We all know it and we all feel the “loss” or the pain of the life that we use to have and the things we use to do freely. It certainly hasn’t been easy for these past 2+ months, but it will get better. We don’t know when or how, but it will.
I think a way that we can help ourselves and our families get through this time is to think or plan for the future. To get excited about what we are going to do. We don’t need to know when we are going to do it, but just the act of thinking about it and planning- even if only in our minds, on paper, or in a journal- for the future will allow our brains to focus on something other than the loss or the pain or the hardship of what is happening in the present.
I am always “planning” things in my head and seeing what I want in the future. I am a giant proponent of visualization and seeing what you want in your mind. Your mind doesn’t know the difference between reality and visualizing so why not visualize and SEE what you really want? I see it all in my head and I see it when I go to bed and when I wake up. I figure the more it’s in there, the more likely it is that it will happen. What you focus on you become!
What can you get excited about doing in the future? Dream about it, see it in your mind, write about all the things you’re going to do when you’re there! It doesn’t have to be something massive or magical, but having something on the calendar (since everything seems to be canceled right now 😫) will allow you and your loved ones to have something to be excited about and plan for. Even just having one small thing each week might just keep your focus on the good stuff instead of what we are missing…
Give yourself the permission to feel the sadness and the loss, but also remember there’s a lot to look forward to ahead. It might look a bit different than the past, but that’s where we are and I’m not sure how much control we have of that. If nothing else, I think this time has taught us the value of time together with others and not taking for granted the simple things like a hug or going places without restrictions or additional rules.
Want to hear more? Head to the podcast page and listen to Episode 4! What are you going to do or plan to do? I’d love to hear your ideas below.