Compassion and Patience is Key
Compassion and patience are key as society emerges from coronavirus-induced isolation. The initial period of enforced solitude during the COVID-19 lockdown required both physical and psychological adjustment as our freedom of movement was curtailed and most interpersonal interactions were cut off. Many people have ridden the "corona-coaster" of emotions and moved from desperation for social connection to the comfort of seclusion with solitude as their new baseline.
Because reengaging with society right now can feel particularly overwhelming, it is important for our mental health and well-being to be mindful and intentional about how we approach both.
There are plenty of people anticipating and experiencing the joys of returning to the "new normal.” But while there will certainly be connections to rekindle and celebrations to be had, it is also important to understand that not everyone will be ready to fully reengage with society and this will require us to be compassionate and patient with ourselves and others as we begin to socialize again. Just as the world has changed during this period of quarantining, so have we as individuals.
Compassion is more than kindness; it is also a recognition that we share a common humanity. This is particularly true now as we are all experiencing similar risks, restrictions, fears and uncertainty. For many of us, even the simple act of making eye contact with others has been minimal during self-isolation and reengaging with people face-to-face can now feel intense. Similarly, what starts off as excitement to socialize can easily turn into exhaustion when people feel overwhelmed by physical interaction.
Whatever your response, it is yours to have and it is okay. You may find it helpful to monitor your interactions with others. When socially reengaging, start small and give yourself permission to retreat as needed.
The lack of face-to-face interaction in recent months also has allowed many people to jettison efforts tied to external appearance. We have options for how we return to the world, both socially and physically. We each have had the opportunity to let go of outward appearances and the expectations of presenting ourselves to society in the image we believed was expected of us. Perhaps this is a chance to give yourself permission to let go of old habits and choose how you want to engage with the world.
The key is to allow and accept whatever you are feeling at any given time, observe how you are responding to social interactions and permit yourself, and others, the time needed to slowly reengage. It can also be helpful to develop a wellness plan for yourself and to monitor how you are responding to social reengagement.
In this strange era, give yourself the time and space you need to adjust to being with people again and recognize that you may feel different hour to hour and day to day. You're not alone – everyone is dealing with a loss of control and uncertainty about what the future brings.
Here are today’s Wellness Wednesday Program reading resources:
“Self-care: Tips for a Happier, Healthier You,” John Hopkins Medicine, Bimal H. Ashar, M.D., Updated May 10, 2021
“Positive perspectives: Redefining self-care and community,” Geisinger, Wellness Articles, July 16, 2020
“80% of Americans intend to regularly practice self-care after COVID-19 pandemic,” Healio, Joe Gramigna, MA, June 12, 2020
