The New Normal

As we go through this Covid-19 crisis, we hear some often-used terminology that corresponds to it. For example, we hear that “we’re all in this together.” Even though I relate that more to High School Musical, I agree. We are told that our lives will be permanently changed and things won’t be the same as they’ve been. As a result, we’re told that we need to get used to “the new normal” that our society will become.

If I’m being honest, I will say that I have already heard enough of these cliches. Yes, I believe in teamwork and I am very happy to see the world unite for some wonderful causes. I also fully support those that are going way above and beyond their own personal strength to attend to the lives of others. I am also aware that the world as a whole will be different, and some of the things I’ve become accustomed to will be different. I’m just tired of hearing cliches and I prefer to listen for solutions instead. So I politely ask the media to please stop keep telling me about the new normal.

As I thought about this further, I thought about how far I’ve come personally since this whole world lockdown has begun. I am a teacher still working from home, but my available time to spend in self-reflection and in quality family time has significantly increased. Being away from the negative school environment has also completely renewed my mind and soul. I then began thinking about the things I could make the “new normal” in my own life, such as un-accomplished goals, unfinished projects, necessary changes, etc. Here are some things I came up with:

• I am quick to act. Now that I have so much extra time for an indefinite amount of time, I have no reason to procrastinate. I’ve become quite good at that, unfortunately. I know how to fill my mind with great thoughts and to use my imagination to visualize the greatness that my life can be. It’s putting this to work and allowing it to manifest that’s been the problem. But now in this new normal, things get done immediately. The new normal is taking swift action towards what needs to be done to accomplish any task. I’ve already learned some excellent strategies about prioritizing to help maximize my time. Starting early and doing the most necessary tasks at the beginning of the day has helped immensely.
• I am in great physical shape. Boy did I realize how much I had ignored my body in my pre-Corona life. I often take it for granted because I am in good health, and for the most part I appreciate my appearance. However, I’ve been slow to exercise for a long time. I know I would have far more positive energy if I was more active. In the new normal, I exercise regularly and I am in excellent shape. During the past few weeks I found an excellent exercise resource and I’ve been using it to add some spice to my exercise life. This along with regular family walks and some tennis time has led to major progress in this area.
• I am others-focused. I love people and always enjoy learning about different ways that life is lived around the world. However, all through my life I’ve been a little too self-centered for my liking. I know it’s necessary and healthy for me to have quality me time and for my own needs to be met. My own love tank needs to be full before I go trying to fill the tanks of others. However, my own tank is quite full. So it’s time to really focus on filling up others with love. I make attempts to do that through my writing, and actions I do for my family and friends. The new normal in my life is a focus on meeting the needs of others and making a greater difference in this world.
• I am anchored in the present moment. I often write about the benefits of remaining in the present moment. In the now, I am at my greatest point of power. I have nothing to be guilty about from the past, and nothing to worry about for the future. I have everything I desire and I am what I want to be in this moment. I realize how, when life gets busy, I tend to stray from the present. That’s when regret and anxiety creep in. In the new normal, this doesn’t happen. The only moment that matters is the present one, and I stick to it like glue. As a result, my life is empowered, and I take others to this higher level with me.
• I see God in everything. This should actually be first as I “seek first the kingdom of God.” However, I put this one last as it’s the one I want to stick with me the most as I look at this list. Remember, when we seek God first, all else is given to us automatically. In my quest to accomplish things, I sometimes look to the outside and to the goals themselves as the ruling motivation in my life. However, in order to accomplish on the outside, I know I have to be right on the inside. Focusing on God and seeing Him in every person and every thing is where my true motivation should be. Thanking Him for what I have, being joyful, and being in constant communication with him (see I Thessalonians 5:16-18) puts me in a position to bring God maximum glory, and adds immensely to the blessing I desire my life to become. This is the new normal in my life.

So how about you. Let’s put the cliches aside. What’s the new normal in your life going to be starting now? I challenge you to think about that and find ways to put it to practice. I encourage you to share them on the comments here. Doing so will provide more excellent ideas for me to aspire to, and for anyone else reading this as well. Thank you in advance. Enjoy the blessings 🙂

Can This Coronavirus Shutdown Be a Good Thing?

As you know by now, the Coronavirus is taking over the world, forcing people and businesses to put life on hold. As of this writing, we are in the middle of the first week of schools, businesses, entertainment, and pretty much everything else shutting down. In fact, some cities have just begun mandated quarantines.

This adjustment and drastic slow down in life is definitely very difficult for all of us to get used to, especially for those of us who are so used to moving at a very quick pace. However, is it possible that this shutdown and life alteration could be a positive thing?

Before I answer the above question, I will first say that I understand how serious this situation is. I admit that at first, I didn’t. I had difficulty figuring out how a sickness that was less significant than others in the past was taking over society, while before life went on. However, as we are in the middle of it now, I realize how serious it is. Many people are becoming ill. Some are dying. Others have people they love that are being affected. For these people, this virus is not a good thing.

I will add that the virus and its impacts are not good for anyone. However, for this rest of this article, I admit I’m going to be a little selfish. Not in a bad way, but I will share things from my perspective and my situation. I am sure some of you are in a similar situation and can relate to what I’m about to share. My hope is that this post can ultimately be an inspiration to anyone who reads it.

So back to my question above. Please allow me to share some personal background. For the past few months, I’ve been a little down emotionally. Even though I have many great things and people in my life, I feel like I’ve been going through the motions, and feeling basically spiritually dead. I still pray, read the Bible, and listen to inspirational messages, but it has been just taking in info instead of being applied to make a difference. I’ve been feeling content, but not joyful. Satisfied, but not fulfilled. I know I’m here for a great purpose, but I still don’t know what that is, and feeling like I’m nowhere near fulfilling that purpose. I’m obviously tired of feeling this way, so I had a real heart to heart prayer with God, asking for His intervention. In my prayer, I was so desperate that I even at one point asked for some debilitating injury or even traumatic event in my life (not that I REALLY wanted that) because I felt like the only thing that would truly wake me up and drag me out of my comfort zone would be something that big.

Well, here we are. In effect, my prayer has been answered. I feel bad that it comes at the expense of other people, but the bottom line is that I am now receiving the downtime and chance to truly wake up and reach my destiny. I am a teacher at a school that may be off for 5 weeks, or it could turn out to be 5 months. I am unable to travel or take advantage of this time by attending sporting events, going out to eat, taking a road trip, or anything that I would typically do for leisure. I watch hours of sports every week. That’s gone indefinitely. I can’t even go to church these days.

Please know I don’t say this to complain. Yes, I miss my primary forms of entertainment. However, as I said before, this is exactly the golden opportunity I’ve been waiting for. I’m not happy that people are sick and dying. Everything is shut down. Yet, I know I have an opportunity to turn my life around. I vow to take advantage of this new life-style. I am hoping that I am so ingrained in it that, once things do eventually get back to normal, there will be no going back. The changes I want to make in my life will already be firmly entrenched, and I only go forward from there.

There are several areas I desire to change, and that can be done starting now. Perhaps some of these resonate with you…

Personal/Spiritual – I have been fighting a major confidence battle lately. Much of that is because I have not spent sufficient time in prayer, meditation, or being spiritually in touch with who I really am. With so much downtime and very little interference, it should be much easier to get back on track spiritually, spend quality time with God, and see His spirit and energy in everyone and everything.

Family – I have the best family in the world, hands down. However, I tend to take them for granted. Since my wonderful family is in the same situation as I am, this is a wonderful time to strengthen the bond that we have. Quality time together will certainly be treasured.

My life work – As I mentioned earlier, I believe I am here for a reason. I am here to somehow make a difference on this planet and glorify God in the process. Overall, I am happy to be a teacher in a school and I believe I am making a small difference there. However, the negative environment, the sometimes difficult people, early wake-up calls, and constant stress on my brain leaves me unfulfilled and again thinking I was made for much more than that. Here is a golden opportunity to seek and find my true purpose, and to actively pursue it as well.

Health – I am generally a healthy person. However, as I have often neglected my spiritual side lately, I have also neglected my physical body. I have not exercised or kept very physically active. What a golden opportunity this is to get on an exercise routine (definitely not in the gym which is shut down and I never went anyway) and strengthen my body along with my mind.

Friends – I have some great friends. Again, I tend to take them for granted. This is a great time to renew friendships. We may not be able to meet in person as much (if at all), but modern technology makes it easy to stay in touch and share good times

The bottom line is that, as long as society is shut down, I want to take full advantage of the situation in order to renew my mind and body, and to renew my relationships with those closest to me, and with God. Once again, I want to be so changed for the positive and be living at such a high emotional energy level that when the pace of life gets back to its normal level, there will be no going back to the lower spiritual vibration I was at, even if I wanted to.

It’s not just me that has this chance. It’s an opportunity for everyone to do the same. I pray that you stay healthy. Use this time to make mental and physical changes that will make you a better person than you already are once this crisis is over. It’s my prayer that God will use this to bring people closer to Him, and it will actually make this world a better place. Enjoy the blessings 🙂