For many of us, this Pandemic feels like it came out of nowhere and rapidly changed all of our lives, leaving us feel a sense of uncertainty about almost everything. The new normal itself is constantly changing. Core areas of our lives which had a sense of normalcy to the point they were mundane, have also changed. Your morning commute to work disappeared, lunches with coworkers and weekend plans, have all literally evaporated over night. Without these routines and structures it can be easy to feel unanchored and unsure of what we can count on. With that lack of surety, many people are feeling a rollercoaster of emotions. While deeply appreciating the space Covid-19 has given us to connect with each other in real and authentic ways, we can within days, hours or even moments later feel a sense of despair for everything that is happening in the world. And how rapidly our lives have changed.
And that’s okay. Part of the new normal is surfing the waves of emotions that come with adjusting to life during Covid-19. One of the most unique parts of being human is the ability to see ourselves and the world differently, every day. So check in within yourself, see how you are feeling today, and then cut yourself some (a lot) of slack. And anticipate that the next day or next moment it could be entirely different.
There’s a Charles Dickens novel called a Tale of Two Cities that I admittedly have never read, but many of us know the quote, “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times.” That’s what this pandemic can feel like. While it has given us the gift of appreciating the beauty and fragility of life, gratitude for our brave front line workers, and real relationships, it also can give us a whole spectrum of less positive emotions. Loneliness, anxiety and numbness. The duality is normal, and to be expected.
Some ways to navigate the choppy emotional waters include all the things you already know to be doing. Hydrate, exercise, call people you love, be authentic and real in your conversations. Tell people how you really are feeling, because once the emotion is expressed it leaves your body and you have the ability to move on.
Reiki is also something that has personally gotten me through this time. Reiki is the transference of universal energy and healing. People who receive reiki report a whole host of positive benefits, everything including enhanced mood, the lifting of depression and anxiety, improving physical symptoms. As a form of energy healing, it aims to strengthen the flow of universal energy and life force through your body, removing energetic blocks, in a similar way to acupressure or acupuncture. If you want to learn more about receiving reiki, you can book an online video session with Jaclyn.
