2020 is canceled y’all.
Come through COVID-19. Come through economic crisis. Come through racial injustice.
We said in 2020 we would be living our best lives. Our personal and professional lives have been tangled into one. Our new normal has become face masks, surgical gloves, and six feet apart. Our daily routine has turned into all things virtual; school, work, graduations, meetings, workouts, dates, and happy hours. We are restricted to open spaces; parks, trails, and beaches.
Many have been laid off, furloughed, and have gone out of business. Many have lost wages, stocks, and have gone without government assistance. Some have been without access to resources and necessities. Some have lost loved ones; and are battling anxiety, grief, and depression with little to no direction or support.
As if it wasn’t enough, we are repeating history because we as a society have not learned our lesson in racial equality and justice. There is a nationwide and global call to action to put an end to systematic racism. Hard conversations are being had and hard truths are being shared. We are showing up in numbers and we are demonstrating our power. We are not just scared of contracting a virus; we are scared to be black or a person of color in a modern, progressive, so-called free America.
So how do you navigate through a pandemic, an economic crisis, police brutality, and systematic racism at the same, damn, time? How do you stay motivated and disciplined to be your best self amid the chaos?
2020 doesn’t have to be canceled, we can still shine because we are endlessly resilient. Empowerment starts with yourself and manifests in your mind and your energy.
Give yourself time and space to adjust…
Allow yourself to accept your new reality, whatever that may be. Take the time to process your feelings. Ask yourself what you can do about your current circumstances and follow through. This last step is important; find a healthy release for those negative feelings and continue to be intentional about living in your new reality.
By all means…shift
Rev. Run once said, “your current thoughts are creating your current feelings.” I cannot stress enough the importance of knowing how to shift. Direct your time and energy into activities that make you happy. Rediscover your passion and pour into yourself. Get creative and reinvent your daily routine. It is the perfect time for exploration, reflect on how to move forward with your life, and implement changes.
Take a social media break…
Our hearts are heavy and our energy depleted. Unfortunately, sometimes social media doesn’t make it any better. We are overloaded with information, pictures, videos, and memes that often without realizing drains our energy. Be aware and well-versed in current events but reclaim your peace and disengage in social media. Its peace over everything now, do not engage in anything that disturbs your peace.
Got goals? Make a plan and slay …
It is easy to feel overwhelmed in navigating your path to success. Often, we are the ones standing in our way. Do not let the fear of the unknown consume you. Embrace the unknown and create an action plan to achieve your goals. Any step at all is a step in the right direction.
We’re going to be alright y’all. Before COVID-19, there was the 2008 economic crisis, swine flu, and buried racial injustices. We must recognize circumstances are temporary. Like anything else in life, circumstances are constantly changing. Change is coming in the form of rebirth and this rebirth is coming tenfold.
So tell me, how will you shine through uncertainty?
