My pregnancies have all been similar to this season of lockdown. I was put on bed rest and as hard as it was for me, I conquered it because I knew I wanted to give birth to healthy children. This season is similar but instead of physical birth, we are pregnant with something more critical. Hopefully, by the end of this lockdown season, we will be giving birth to better versions of ourselves. Today, I am sharing with you the nine lessons that I have learned so far. I hope this list brings about a sense of wisdom and gratitude for all the changes this season has brought about.
Lesson 1: Simplicity
This lockdown season is a call for simplicity. Let’s get real. How many clothes and shoes did you have on rotation this week? How much makeup did you use? Since we were reduced to our necessities, think and reflect: What were the things that you were able to make do? How simplified are your choices now? It is not the time to splurge or indulge in excess. This is a period of simplicity, a time for emphasizing its importance and beauty.
Lesson 2: Sacrifice
What are you capable of giving up? Are you capable of giving up your favorite food? Meat? Sweets? When you give up something, ponder: What am I going to gain from this? Perhaps, if you look closely, you’ll realize that you’ve gained more than you’ve lost. For example, I love chicken, but I gave it up last year. It made me see how the benefits outweigh what I lost because I wanted to care for my health better and enjoy a better quality of life. How about you? What are you willing to give up?
Lesson 3: Satisfy
How satisfied are you with your life? Can you be satisfied with the littlest of what you have right now? It talks a lot about how much you value and celebrate what you have in the here and now, no matter how scant it may seem. If you make a conscious effort to shift your mindset from all the should’s and must’s and be able to make the most of what you have, then you’ll learn to appreciate what you have and this, in turn, makes you grateful and satisfied. It is all about making the most of what life has given you. The beauty in being satisfied with the littlest of what you have is that by the time blessings pour and you’re given more, you’ll see them as bonuses or graces that you do not expect or deserve. It will help you to see the blessings clearer instead of being so quick to feel entitled and take these for granted.
Lesson 4: Strength
What is keeping you strong during this season? This season is challenging you to realize where true strength is rooted from. If life forces you to go without the things that you used to anchor your strength from, you’ll realize that inner strength is your greatest anchor. This is also an invitation to offer your strengths to others, so we can conquer and thrive together. I know that one of my strengths is helping other people, and this is precisely why I continue to share my thoughts and offer encouragement through my blog posts and Facebook Videos. Whether it is cooking well for your family, fundraising, or utilizing a skill – go ahead and touch other people’s lives by sharing your strength.
Lesson 5: Significant Relationships
This time teaches us to value the relationships that we have at home, and to work through issues if they arise. Conflict is essential in the family dynamics. In terms of more shallow relationships, this is the perfect time to filter significant relationships to see who are the more important people to be with at this time.
Lesson 6: Sanity
Your mental, physical, and emotional well-being are very crucial. Where is your sense of sanity anchored? What practices are keeping you sane? If regular trips to the salon or hanging out with friends were things that used to keep you sane, perhaps this is the time that challenges you to reevaluate where your sanity is anchored. That perhaps, aside from the external gratifications, you find something within yourself that proves that you are the best caretaker of your being.
Lesson 7: Self-Care
There are self-care practices that need to be tweaked. The good news here is there are things at home that you finally have time for – a mini spa, deep conditioning treatment for your hair, or even a body scrub! But the best forms of self-care now come in the form of sleep, exercise, and a gadget detox.
Lesson 8: Significance
One of the possible reasons why so many people are resisting this quarantine is because their worth and significance are anchored on the outside, instead of something within. Bro. Bo Sanchez said that success is about you but the significance is about helping other people achieve their purpose and succeed. During this quarantine season, try to make a difference. Go for things that are beneficial not only for you but for the people around you.
Lesson 9: Spirituality
This puts importance on deepening your spiritual life. Your body thrives on food, shelter, and sleep alone but a deepened spirituality allows you to thrive in a season of uncertainty.
Finally, ponder upon Pope Francis’ message: “The storm exposes our vulnerability and uncovers those false and superfluous certainties around which we have constructed our daily schedules, our projects, our habits, and priorities. It shows us how we have allowed to become dull and feeble the very things that nourish, sustain, and strengthen our lives and our communities.”
Seize this time of trial as a time of choosing. You are called to use this time of lockdown to learn and comprehend the life lessons that can enable you to thrive in this period and beyond.