Do your feel emotional confusion over this pandemic?
Itās a cocktail of worry and joy topped off with guilt. Choosing joy feels so backwards right now. Yet, it feels like exactly the right thing to do while we still have a choice.
It is possible I will eat these words tomorrow – heck, maybe later today, because change happens hourly these days.
The thing is, Iām struggling to process the dark side of this because it feels like itās happening to āother peopleā. My family is healthy. I havenāt lost anyone to it.
Sure, Iām concerned. Iām never without āconcern.ā
My husband is a healthcare worker but heās not on the front lines so I donāt feel that burden directly.Ā
I worry when he leaves the house three times a week to go to his āessentialā job (the quotes being for the term weāve given such work in this season, not because I donāt believe that it is essential).
And Iām doing all the things – Iām staying home (I havenāt left my house in three weeks other than to walk in my neighborhood), Iām wiping down our groceries, Iām keeping our mail and packages in the garage overnight so as not to risk bringing āitā in on those items . . . the list is endless. Iām living this too, but Iām not living in fear.
I hear it. I read about it every day.Ā And, I pray. My heart is heavy for those who go to battle for long hours every day on the front lines and for those who have lost. I canāt imagine what our healthcare workers are seeing and experiencing or how they come down from it to go to sleep at night knowing they have to wake up and do it all over again. How they are coping with being distant from their families.Ā
Thousands of people have died a horrible, lonely death which means thousands of healthcare workers have experienced the loss of patients and thousands more have experienced the loss of those loved ones. And yet, it almost seems surreal to me given that we go about our days with the aforementioned caution but ultimately with joy – maybe even an elevated level of joy – and I canāt help but feel guilt over that.Ā
Recognize that joy is a choice.
Joy is indeed a choice, but itās also a privilege and Iām grateful for that perspective and ultimately for that gift. Iām not taking it for granted for even a second. I have the foresight to recognize that I may not always be so lucky and so I choose to focus on that joy and the bliss of ignorance for all that I cannot fathom. In fact, I see it as my duty to choose joy because just maybe it offers some balance to the world right now.
This morning I listened to the weekly training for the #Next90Challenge with my (internet) friend Rachel Hollis. The topic there was also ‘choose joy’ – itās what got me thinking and ultimately writing about it. Rachel urged listeners to āfight for joyā and to start by practicing gratitude. In our newsletter last week, we outlined how to start a gratitude practice in Rock Your Best You.
Fight for joy, especially in the darkest of times.
What if you knew there would be a hard-stop to this pandemic and hence the quarantine in 7 days. How would you spend the next week? Youād likely spend less time worrying and maybe get really intentional about completing all those decluttering projects you started over the last few weeks.
Now, what if you knew that hard-stop would come one year from now. How would you spend your year? How would it affect your outlook and mindset?
The ONE thing we donāt know is when this pandemic will end. The worst thing we can do for ourselves and for our families is live under the weight of impending doom. It is detrimental mentally, emotionally and even physically. Sadness begets sadness.
This is not to say you shouldnāt grieve or feel all the feels, but be aware of them and be cautious about how long you linger in those feelings. Keep fighting for joy! And when you fall out of joy, give yourself grace then get back up and keep fighting!
Schedule your joy.
Get intentional and make it a point to experience it in some form every day.Ā
We may not know what the future holds but in the words of Rachel Hollis, āThe faster you can come to terms with this new normal and let go of what WAS, the sooner you can be joyful in what IS.ā
For many, the grief is outweighing joy. If youāre lucky enough to not be among them right now, choose joy. Choose joy even if it means starting small. Much like sadness, joy is also contagious and though this quarantine is specifically designed to stop contagion. We can foster it in our homes and among our families. We can spread it across phone lines and virtual gatherings. Start with a simple smile. Wear it on your lips, in your voice, and in your eyes until it convinces your heart and mind that you are genuinely experiencing joy!
Will you choose joy?
How will you choose to live out this season? What do you have to be grateful for today? Manifest your joy through gratitude and watch it spread through your household – one smile at a time!
Love this Rachel š One thing I’ve included in my nightly journaling is asking myself “How could I have 5% more fun tomorrow?” which is question stolen from Mike’s favorite coach Steve Chandler. It gets you thinking creatively and holds me accountable to making that “thing” happen each day. 5% adds up each day!
I love this idea Jill; thank you so much for sharing! – Rachel