Let go!

Since I last wrote a blogpost we have gone into social isolation in Germany – with only essential shops and services open. It’s a strange way to live just seeing your partner or family each day , or being on your own completely.

We don’t know how long this will last and so many things around us are hard to predict in this post Covid 19 time. There is a temptation to try and plan and pin things down for certain in the future, or to make demands on those around us, to try and feel as if we are actually in charge after all. This can just increase a feeling of helplessness and frustration.

It can help to focus on what we can control in a day : this might be making sure we eat healthily and take exercise. This will give us a (small at least) sense of achievement each day. What falls into this category for you ?

Then we can work on what we might be able to influence but not control : this might relate to how others behave and act in your family – for example, I have made a decision to be in contact once a week with one of my relatives to make sure that person , on their own, is OK as far as I can.

Finally we can analyse and note what is totally out of our control – how long we are going to be living in this confinement, for example. There are many things that fall into this category at present because of the scale of the impact of the virus. Acknowledging the things we have no control over enables us to let go . It may give us an idea for some way of improving our confinement too – I am missing several short holidays during these weeks so it has led me to ask myself how we can create some sort of holiday atmosphere in the house. I have been buying some fish and great vegetables to do some nice food to remind me of the Mediterranean holiday I am missing.

Many will be experiencing these feelings of being out of control in relation to parts of their job as well and the same analysis works in that context : what can I control? what can I influence and what is out of my control and influence ? It takes a lot of solid confidence to keep going in this unpredictable environment when the rules seem to be being made up afresh each day. Staying open to readjusting plans and reviewing decisions and listening to input from people around us is key to steering our way through this day by day.

More soon – let’s stay at home to keep all the front line workers in health and all the other essential services as safe a possible.