Introspection During Pandemic Times

“Knowing yourself is the beginning of all wisdom.” - Aristotle

“Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle.” - Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland

Due to COVID-19, lockdown has been implemented in many countries, as it is considered the best solution at the moment to slow down the spread of the virus. Thus, we have to adjust our daily routine and show flexibility. In fact, during this situation many people find themselves. In many cases, people are grateful for this situation, since our busy lives don’t really allow us to take time to reflect and take a deep dive into ourselves. Thus, a lockdown can be considered as a perfect opportunity to reconsider what is essential, discover new aspects of ourselves, and reflect on what defines us…

I think that things happen for certain reasons and it is our responsibility to see them and not miss these occasions. Therefore, if you are in a lock down, I think it is important to take the time to ask yourself some important questions. The following are some relevant questions I found on the Internet:

- About who you are and what you believe in: What are my values? Do I live in accordance with them? Am I satisfied with my daily life generally speaking? How do I feel about it?

- About your history: What lessons can I take from my last experiences? Have my past experiences influenced who I am? Does it have a positive impact on myself?

- About your future: What steps can I follow to reach the person I’d like to become? How different would I like my life to be once the pandemic is over?

Redefining our priorities is a good way to lighten our mental load, lessen our anxiety, and find a better balance between our professional and personal lives.

I’d like to finish with this quote:

"God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference." - Marcus Aurelius

This coronavirus raises our awareness on what we can control and what we cannot. Indeed, I think we tend to think too much about changing everything around us. This can cause us to feel anxiety, stress and pressure. This pandemic teaches us about letting go. We cannot change the current situation. All we can do is hope and wait. But we can reduce the virus’s impact by respecting the health recommendations and taking good care of our fragile ones.

We all have the opportunity to perceive precarious situations in a positive way or not. This is a choice that may impact our decisions, our ways of living and, indirectly, our mental health.

Take good care of your health, both physically and mentally!