By Nicholas Rudgear
GCU Office of Student Care
#Askingforafriend
Are you sick of COVID-19 yet? Because I am. I’m sick of hearing about COVID-19. Sick of talking about COVID-19. And certainly, certainly sick of all the ways it has affected the world as we know it.
And yet, this is reality. This is life. For better or worse, COVID-19 is a fact of life right now. But what do we do when reality is as devastating as COVID-19 has been?
I believe it comes down to perspective.
You are probably painfully aware of all the ways that COVID-19 has affected your own life. In a way, with all the media attention, constant news updates, social-distancing guidelines, etc., we are perhaps too aware of this present reality.
And we have forgotten there is a bigger picture. It’s easy to do when something so monumental is occurring. But it can get us into trouble when we believe that our present reality, dark though it may be, will be our future reality.
Sometimes we can’t see the forest for the trees without even realizing it. We can take something that is temporary and believe that it is permanent.
Having an accurate perspective means acknowledging what reality is not. Indeed, this is a very challenging time right now. But that’s the key – it's right now.
No matter where you are in the story of your life, this is a chapter. A painful chapter, yes, but still just a chapter. There have been chapters before this and there will be chapters after this. Just as life was happening before all this change, so too will life exist beyond this.
It’s hard to imagine, but there will be a time when COVID-19 is a memory. Although I don’t know what the future holds, I do know that this isn’t forever.
Despite all the changes in our lives, COVID-19 is not the end of the story or even the whole story. The goal is to shift our perspective from COVID-19 being all we can see to becoming more aware of the bigger picture.
Practically, this may look a little different for everyone. However, here are some thoughts to get you started:
- Acknowledge whatever you may be feeling and thinking about reality right now. And know whatever those are, it’s OK.
- Remind yourself that this is temporary. It is just a chapter in a bigger story.
- Reflect on other parts of your story not related to COVID-19. What are some good memories from the past? What are things you are looking forward to in the future? What are you passionate about? Grateful for? Proud of? Learning about? Essentially, what makes you, “you”?
- Affirm that those things existed before and will exist after coronavirus is behind us.
When we can have a more accurate perspective, it can help sustain us – give us strength and resilience to endure present difficulties.
I encourage you to reflect and remember all the beautiful and unique parts of your own story, for your story is far bigger than just today. Or this week. Or even this year.
Remembering and connecting to other parts of my story has been one of the most powerful sources of comfort to me lately. My hope is that having a clearer perspective of reality can be a source of comfort for you, too.
