How to Deal With COVID Lockdown Emotions
Whenever you are faced with what seems to be a negative situation, there are always two aspects to consider:
- The practical, logical aspect.
- The emotional, psychological aspect.
With regard to the COVID-19 lockdown, the practical aspect is relatively simple: Do nothing, stay at home.
It seems easy, but it isn't.
The emotional and psychological ramifications of the lockdown are not easy to deal with, because staying at home and doing nothing, is an unnatural state of affairs.
How well you handle this situation emotionally will be based upon what beliefs you hold.
Here are two sets of three words. One set describes an unhealthy attitude to the lockdown, the second describes a healthy way of looking at the same thing.
This is the unhealthy attitude:
Permanent, Pervasive and Powerless.
Taken together "permanent and pervasive" means that you consider COVID-19 has changed life irrevocably for the worse, and that "things will never be the same again".
"Powerless" means that you feel you have lost all power to influence your own life; that your fate is being dictated by forces beyond your control; that you are like a pinball in a pinball machine, with no will nor choice of your own.
Thinking like this is emotional poison.
Here is the healthy set; note that they are the opposite of the words listed above:
Temporary, Limited and Powerful.
Taken together "temporary and limited" means that this situation is time limited, it will not affect everyone negatively. Things will recover, because time is the great healer.
This enforced time away from work and normal activities, is perfect for you to invest in building-up your personal power.
During the lockdown, use the time to:
- read more
- exercise more
- sleep more
- talk to someone on the phone
- study more
- find a new hobby
- and set goals for a better future
So, the healthy attitude is to use lockdown to improve yourself, to become stronger and fitter.
Take Back Control.
Remember that how you feel emotionally, is governed by the beliefs you hold in your subconscious mind.
To feel better, eliminate bad thoughts and accentuate the good.
- Eliminate thoughts based around increasing powerlessness.
- Accentuate thoughts based around increasing your personal power.
- Enjoy your day!
"Don't count the days; make the days count!" - Muhammad Ali
personal power
Context: Personal Development. Genus: psychological capacity. Differentia: 1) comes from self-belief not outside control; 2) turns thought into chosen action and goal progress; 3) stays active when events limit freedom; 4) grows through daily practice of learning, exercise and planning. Plain English: Personal power is the inner mental strength that lets you choose your own path even when life is hard. It rests on strong self belief, turns thoughts into clear action, keeps working when outside limits appear, and grows each day as you read, move, learn and plan.
CG4D Definition
Context: Personal development
Genus: Psychological capacity
- Comes from self-belief not outside control
- Turns thought into chosen action and goal progress
- Stays active when events limit freedom
- Grows through daily practice of learning, exercise and planning
Article Summary
Lockdown emotions feel heavy, yet you can change them; see the crisis as temporary and limited, act each day to read, move, learn and plan, and you will swap powerlessness for personal power, boost your mood and leave the pandemic stronger than you began.