It is What it is - Practicing Acceptance (especially during COVID!)

We are still in the COVID-19 pandemic, and practicing social distancing.

And this is tough on all of us. For some, it means working from home. For others, it means not working at all. This can be difficult financially, physically, mentally, emotionally, and socially.

Looking at how this pandemic has been positive can be a really useful tool. But it can also be really hard. On one hand, look at how many opportunities this pandemic has opened for us to learn new things, spend time with God, work on ourselves, etc.

On the other hand, we may be more tired, lonely, bored, and frustrated.

So, instead of forcing yourself to focus on a positive OR the negative, focus on the now.

What is happening now? We are in a pandemic and life is very, very different right now.

How do you feel NOW? Practice this skill. Don’t think about what happened yesterday and how that made you feel. Don’t focus on your worries about what is happening tomorrow, and what you are fearful about.

This is about being mindful and practicing acceptance. Right now, for example, you may in your room. You may be thinking about how life is so different now, how you miss work and your friends and family. How your routine has been knocked out of place.

But what else is going on? Are you tired and need to sleep? Are you thankful because you managed to get through the work (at home!) day? Are you looking forward to working on that new puzzle you started in quarantine?

 It is what it is.

This is one of the hardest statements to apply into our lives. Accepting the situation now is incredibly difficult. We may not like it. We wish things were different.

But does that change anything? No. it only makes life harder. Instead of this, think about what you can control.

You can control what you do with your time now. You can control which thoughts and emotions you entertain and focus on, and which you acknowledge and move on. You have the power within you to accept that right now, life looks really different. And there is so much unknown, so much uncertainty. And that’s okay. Why? Because it is what it is. You cannot change it – so accept it, and feel peaceful because you CAN control how you respond to this situation. You can decide today to accept that life is tough right now, but that you are too. 

In the presence of many unknowns, one thing you can be sure of: you are more than capable of feeling tough emotions and thoughts – and deciding for this moment, you will just be. You will accept that we are all struggling right now through the pandemic. That you are not alone. That is okay to be feeling a range of emotions right now.

And you will be okay. We will be okay.

Remember, after the rainstorm comes the rainbow. But if we didn’t have the rain, how could we come to appreciate how beautiful the sunshine is? Thinking about wanting the rain to stop won’t make it happen. It will rain and rain. And then when it’s over, the rainbow and sun appear.

In the meantime, you can decide to sulk and moan about the rain.

Or you can wear your raincoat and get on with what you need to do. You can also stay inside and do what you need to do while the rain pours from the clouds.

Either way, it is raining. You cannot control that. It is what it is.

What will you do during the storm? You CAN control that!