Thoughts by Rozaine Cooray
A time to heal..
Perhaps this is a good time to stop and take stock of our lives. A lockdown can push us to address areas in our lives we’ve neglected or merely swept under the carpet out of convenience. Perhaps the lockdown is a time to heal, to look after ourselves, to revive the liveliness as felt by a child in school who is allowed the interval to eat and play, to replenish those emptied reserves through sleeping, doing a hobby or consciously doing nothing, to reinstate the connection to a greater reason and purpose through meditation and prayer.
A chance to mend relationships..
What is it like to have our kids with us 24/7 while we work from home during this lockdown? Conscious parenting brings a level of balance to our wellbeing as parents and as a family. Let the gaps show and holes cry out loud for mending. Confront the silence, the agitation, the impatience of behaviour. Let’s make it a point not to bring our frustration, fear or even our all-encompassing brokenness as a person as we become present with our children. This may be a once in a lifetime opportunity to restore our relationship with them. And we may thank the lockdown times later.
A time to give..
Sharing is humanity. It’s an opportunity to care and feel that we are all one. Interestingly, there’s neuroscience behind generosity! Research shows that giving is related to a feel-good hormone called oxytocin, which is responsible for making us feel a sense of belonging and love. Not that we should give for selfish reasons but in this time of isolation, sharing could be the very antidote we need to fight our worries, restlessness, and even alienation. When we look beyond just ourselves, our family and loved ones: can we share something with a stranger or a neighbor even if we were to have less as a result of it?
A chance to take control..
Perhaps this is a good time to go on that diet or start on that exercise routine. Saying no to what we like, or doing the difficult thing gives us a powerful sense of control over ourselves. Psychologically, this can to a certain extent compensate for the control we have lost in this lockdown. Focus on what you can change and see what changes for you as a result.
