For many, the pandemic has given us a new perspective. It has helped us learn about ourselves: our resilience and limits, our needs and values, our strengths and shortcomings, our sense of mortality and humanity.
Something I have learned is that I don’t necessarily have to do all of the things I once thought I had to do. For example: Do I need to wear uncomfortable clothes in order to be presentable? Do I need to wake up early every day to be productive? Am I obliged to say “I’m good,” even when I’m not necessarily good?
During the pandemic, our highest priority became to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe. This meant that other things had to be let go.
Many people have shared with me that they are oddly content with the lockdowns. They are no longer able to meet with people who aren’t in their circle of love or care. They don’t have to chauffeur their kids to multiple extracurricular activities. They no longer feel the need for grooming practices like waxing or colouring their hair. People tell me they enjoy having more down time, or family time, which their lifestyles did not allow before.
This made me wonder how many of the things we prioritize in life are actually expectations placed on us by others. It’s incredible to consider:
When the ability to follow through with certain expectations is taken away from us, what do we choose to do?
I encourage you to think about which aspects of your lives make you happy during the pandemic, and how you might change your lifestyle to sustain this happiness going forward.
Cover photo credit: Jake Hailstone/Unsplash
Vaishali Patel, RP, is a whole-hearted Psychotherapist specializing in the Wellness Approach. She has been counselling since 2003, working in the fields of Employee Assistance Programming and private practice, helping individuals find more balance and wellness in their lives. To delve deeper into heart based healing, she has also completed the Inner Engineering Program to enhance her knowledge and experience in achieving inner wellbeing through meditative practices.