Handling covid: mentally

Handling covid: mentally.

I have been wanting to write a blog or an article since some time now, but for some reason or the other, it has never really materialised. However, the present situation has given me an opportunity to write and share somethings which I have learned during this period. I hope you find this useful.

We all are constantly reading, listening and talking about covid and the consequences thereof. Be it about the lack of medical facilities, suffering, deaths or the economic impact of the lockdown. With this blog, I am trying to suggest some simple measures to deal with the anxiety, which people are suffering from cause of the present situation.

Here are some simple tips:

·       We always think more about what we don’t want, instead of thinking about what we want – so if you don’t want covid and you don’t want to suffer in anyway, then stop reading, listening, talking and thinking about covid and the other adverse situations.

What you persist will subsist. Hence, don’t revolve all your thoughts and conversations around these negative topics. As a simple measure, stop glorifying the virus by writing it as ‘COVID’ and start writing, if at all you have to, as ‘covid’.

Do filter the quantum of information you are consuming and processing. It is important to be informed about developments, but it is not necessary to absorb overwhelming quantum of information. STOP OVERTHINKING.

Meditation helps you calm your mind and a calm mind in turn generates positive thoughts. You can use the following YouTube content to introduce yourself to the wonders of meditation:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2uFywCZSp7w (Powerful Theta meditation to stop overthinking and improve sleep by Vex King)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OE9NovATHAo (Morning Guided Meditation with Deepak Chopra)

·       Positive mindset - Create positive thoughts about you, your family and friends. Imagine you and the people around you as healthy and joyful. The more you worry and think about bad things, the more you attract bad things to yourself. Select FAITH over fear. You are fine and you are healthy, and you will be fine and healthy. Make a conscious effort to think positive and positive things will happen to you. Read good books, listen to positive music, meditate, exercise (even if it means you are just exercising for 10 minutes) and you will see positive results. The proponents of law of attraction believe that, a person summons every experience (good and bad) that he/she goes through. You bring every good or bad experience in your life, by thinking about it. So choose positive thoughts and bring good into your life. I am sharing some interesting insights here from, The Secret:

First thing in the morning or as early in the day as you can, Count your Blessings. It’s the quickest way to change your life.

Remember, whatever you are grateful for multiples.

Feel really good about YOU and you will attract more circumstances and events that will make you feel good about you.

You can also watch the video How to instantly influence your mood, self -regulate your biology by Dr. Deepak Chopra

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X14MC64VpOM

·       Every adversity brings in a new opportunity - Financial experts are doing their job of analysing the economic impact and we hear about pay cuts and people losing their jobs, but remember all this is temporary. The world is changing, and the principle of life is new doors open, when old doors close. You may be aware, that the following companies started their business during economic recessions/financial downturns, and today they are some of the most successful companies in the world:

Ø  General Electric

Ø  General Motors

Ø  IBM

Ø  Disney

Ø  Hewlett Packard

Ø  Hyatt

Ø  Fedex

Ø  Microsoft

Ø  What’s app

Ø  Groupon

Ø  Instagram

Ø  Uber

Whether you are running a business or you are an employee, you always have scope to do better. Raise the bar for yourself, think of how you can do better, think of your limitations and look for strategy to overcome those. If you are stuck, ask for help. Help others in overcoming their limitations, you will surely succeed. Be resourceful, find solutions. Take small steps, but surely keep moving forward. If you are able to move forward, then help others as well. Helping others will give you more strength. Try to be the best version of yourself everyday. 

·       Practice gratitude – Every school of spiritualism believes in gratitude being the biggest virtue of all. By practicing gratitude, you move towards positivity, and it brings joy and peace to you, which will in turn help you become more positive as a person. All the things mentioned here, may seem like a difficult task, but if you practice gratitude, you will receive an inherent strength and capability to deal with any negativity.

Practising gratitude does not only mean helping someone financially. You can practice gratitude in your own way, including by talking to someone who is distressed or trying to help a friend/colleague who has lost his/her job, to get a new job. You can practice gratitude by feeding someone or even donating clothes or other merchandise to someone who is in need. Where there is a will, there is a way. So if you decide to practice gratitude, opportunities will automatically come to you. Call an old friend or a relative, with whom you are not on talking terms, and enquire about his/her well being. In your heart forgive them before you call them. They will respond to you positively and that will make you feel good.   

Needless to state, these are just the mental aspects, and one of course needs to be aware of and observe the physical precautions which are required to protect themselves from any kind of infection.

My thoughts here are inspired from the following books and their teachings on social media:

Good Vibes, good life - Vex King;

The Secret - Rhonda Byrne; and

Dr. Deepak Chopra.

The views expressed here are personal in nature.

You can share your feedback with me on hparekh18@yahoo.co.in.

With lots of positive vibes,

Hemang Parekh