We’re living in a strange time currently. A lot of us are in quarantine and having to change the way we live and work. There isn’t a fixed end in sight. We know this won’t last forever however it’s likely that there will be a new normal once we come out of the end of this. What that looks like only time will tell.

Photo by CDC on Unsplash

One thing is certain though. Whilst we don’t have the power to change the external situation of what’s happening in the world, we do have the power to change our response to it. What is your current response? Are you counting down the days until everything returns to normal? Are you angry, annoyed, sad, disappointed? These feeling are all natural.

But you do have a choice to make, and it can be quite an important one. Are you going to sit back and let this pandemic happen to you? Are you going to just let life happen to you? Are you going to come out the other end, having placed everything on pause? Are you going to come out of this with less health, a few kilos heavier? Are you going to binge on Netflix until it’s done? Are you going to snack on bad foods until this goes away?

The choice is yours but there is an alternative.

‘When there is an obstacle in the path, the obstacle becomes the path’

Unfortunately, whilst some may choose to sit still and wait it out, time itself does not sit still. We don’t know when the end is and the time between now and then will never be given back to you. You have a choice to use this time wisely. There is no time like the present and you have a choice to accept what is going on and make the most of it.

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This is not to say that you should ignore what’s going on. Ignoring it won’t make it go away. The first step is acceptance. Now that you’ve accepted you must note the current situation and choose how it will affect you.

“The trick to forgetting the big picture is to look at everything close up.” — Chuck Palahniuk

Change your point of view. This is an opportunity. If you look for issues, problems, excuses and reasons for why this is bad, then you will find them. The opposite is also true. If you look for opportunities, you will find them.

Are you now working from home? That’s great, now you’ve saved both time and money on the commute. You can use that time to play with your children, read a chapter in a book, do a quick workout, meditate, start learning a new skill.

Have you been furloughed from work? Maybe this is an opportunity to start that side business you’ve never had time for. Maybe it’s time to sit down and re-evaluate your finances and cut unnecessary costs and wastage. Maybe it’s time to learn a new skill that will make you more promotable/employable in the future. Maybe it’s time to do a spring clean in the house. Maybe it’s time to connect with your loved one. Maybe it’s time to re-evaluate what’s important to you and what your priorities are in life?

Gym closed? Why not broaden your fitness with different types of exercise. Try callisthenics, try yoga, try running, try sprinting. Turn up the music and dance. Use this as a chance to change up your routine and work on a new area. Set yourself the goal to come out of this fitter. Who knows, maybe you’ll enjoy it that you won’t need to return to a gym and save on the membership. (That said I’m supporting my local family-owned gym through this crisis by paying my membership. However I understand that your financial situation may be different)

Photo by kike vega on Unsplash

Yes, there are some worse things that have happened as a result of the current situation. People have lost their jobs, their investment accounts or pensions have been halved and in some cases, they have also lost loved ones. These are all horrible things and I hope you will find a way out to move forward.

However, in-action, complaining, anger and blame will not improve your situation. In fact, they will only make it worse.

In the words of Epictetus: “In life our first job is this, to divide and distinguish things into two categories: externals I cannot control, but the choices I make with regard to them I do control. Where will I find good and bad? In me, in my choices.”

The Greeks had a word for this: apatheia. It’s the kind of calm equanimity that comes with the absence of irrational or extreme emotions. Not the loss of feeling altogether, just the loss of the harmful, unhelpful kind. Don’t let the negativity in, don’t let those emotions even get started. Just say: No, thank you. I can’t afford to panic. I can’t afford to make it worse.

Life will throw curveballs at you, and you must be prepared to change direction, accept change, and move forward regardless. Don’t wait for your situation to change. Don’t wait for an imaginary date in the future where it will all be better. NOW is the time to act. You’re in control of your decisions that will shape how you react to this today. Don’t rely on others to improve your situation. You are in control of your own fate.

Book recommendation: Victor Frankl — Man’s search for Meaning.

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This article was written by Stuart Munnich. If you’d like to know more or receive notifications for future articles, please head over to the Website and subscribe at the bottom of the page!

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Read next: Thoughts on Mindset: https://medium.com/@Coffee.Whisky.Barbells.and.B/some-thoughts-on-mindset-75e1b354b97

Stoicism: https://medium.com/@Coffee.Whisky.Barbells.and.B/01-why-im-a-stoic-and-you-should-be-too-2e317eda6536

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