5 Lessons The Covid-19 Pandemic Crisis Taught Me About Resilience
Most of us experienced adversity, pain, and traumain 2020- the wake of the pandemic. The entire world felt a convergence of crises because the pandemic was never expected. Personally, I never read or heard anyone mention anything of that nature before that time. I am sure, if I did come across it in any writing, I would still not have understood it.
Despite the events of 2020, I see (also read) example after example of people charging ahead with their lives — continuing to work hard, making it to the top, still dreaming big, standing taller than ever for their families and their communities.From the tough times had come tough lessons that has led to personal growth and other learning opportunities.
Resilience helps us deal with what is going on. Resilience enables us to handle life. The definition of resilience has evolved but is fundamentally understood as referring to positive adaption, or the ability to maintain stability, despite experiencing adversity.
The demands of the situation gave me “resilience force” and with the strength, I withstood the chaos of the pandemic till date. The world seemed to stop, and yet it didn’t stop at all.
Here’s a look into my positive takeaways as lessons learned from the pandemic:
1. You are in Control
You can become whatever you want is a true statement. You are your only limit. If you want something to happen, you – and only you – can make it happen. You can be anything and you can change course at age 25, 30, 40, 45, 50, 60, 65, 70 – mastering any new skill, starting a new business, raising a family, renovating or building a house or saving for the future.
The pandemic forced us to survey what resources we have at our disposal and consider how they can help us get by. I found myself leaning harder on my friendships, which brightened the existent strength of those relationships, and even rendering them stronger. I equally discovered tools within, like self-awareness, positive self-talk, etc.
I looked for ways I could make my life happier, despite all the factors I thought were out of my control.
2. Actions matter more than words
The period taught me that life is simply short.I wondered for the first time why I hadnot been taking leap at the first opportunities in the past.I understood that actions prove who someone really is while words only show what someone wants to be. Words are cheap, they say!
I was among those who gave excuses like ‘waiting for the right time’ but today I need you to understand with me that it is a sheer waste of life. The right time to change jobs, start a business, buy that house, start a new hobby, plan a trip with your family, etc. will never arrive with thoughts alone. Please do not waste your time learning it if you will not take prompt action.
I have now learnt to surprise people bytaking action less than 24 hours after I talked about something. I have learned that I must take the leap and do things rather than waiting for life to pass me by.
3. There is always a ray of hope
It ravaged and subsided even if there are after-effects. For some, the heat generated still ravages, but there is almost always a silver lining of opportunity. I found that redundancy became an opportunity to turn that side project into a full-time project, an opportunity to turn the hobby to a business. Those closed offices and schools meant more time with family; money was also saved on the commute. My best was the more time at home which meant more opportunity to nourish myself with home-cooked meals.
That bad situation was not all bad. Always, look out for the good in a bad situation and maximize it. A good way to identify your ray of hope is to be highly adaptive and opportunistic. Iwas able to realize that I always have more resources (internal and external) than I previously knew and thought.
4. Difficult times reveal the truth
It can be funny how difficult times show us the truth about life and about the people around us. I confirmed that I am stronger than I have always thought.
This is a particular fact a lot had to attest to – most relationships fizzled out or re-ignited during the period! Most of us realised that the people they spent the most time with didn’t add anything to them.
In the face of the adversity, asindustries stopped, cities placed under lockdown, I had to do everything all by myself and without any support. We all now know that when we return to our favourite places and the arising communities, we willarrive as more conscious individuals and make choices that have a positive impact on the life that we are living.
5. Be unapologetically you
There’s no better time to be yourself. Putting yourself as number one in your life, taking space when you need it and saying “no” needs to be the priority.The pandemic periods taught us that life doesn’t wait for anyone, so why waste your precious hours. I decided to start doing only what I choose to do and be and no longer what my parents, partner, employer, family or friends want or think.
I concluded that no one is really interested in you. Idon’t aim to please others and neverhave to worry about how others view me. Moreover, I know myself better now! I have to be me and no one else to maximize my life goals!
A Final Note
I am now most resilient as I maintain a sense of purpose the pandemic crisis(just like any other crisis) threwat me. Just knowing that no one owes me anything spurred me to taking action and being in charge.
It is simply amazing that I can control how I do whatever I do now. The best medicine for me has been to seize control of my life and my practice and to give up that feeling of endless rushing from one commitment to another.
My goal is to always maintain this same level of control. I hope the same for you.Don’t be left wondering how to move forward after going through any life crisis.
Just move forward!
