As a follow-up to my previous post (read here), here are some of the goodies we are stocking up on during the Lockdown of 2020 to help make addressing our personal and family resolutions enjoyable and sustainable. Now, some of these may need more effort than others, but that’s what is going to make this journey of revisiting our virtues more meaningful and fun!
Patience, Gratitude and Positivity
We begin each day with every intention of following a routine. When things don’t go as planned, the disappointment begins. And when essential tasks for the day are impacted by external factors, some of which may even be beyond our control, the frustration mounts. This happens a lot with me, more so after becoming a parent. I think to myself, “I used to be a very patient person, when did that all change?”. I have spent a good part of this lockdown contemplating this exact question.
Along with patience; gratitude and positivity seem to take a hit these days as well. I guess its more the pressure from self-imposed expectations by giving meaningless priority to the ”time waits for no man” impression of the external world, that leads to this psychological and emotional state of extreme urgency. And while I step back and look at all the moments of each day where I lose my patience or forget what it means to be grateful and positive, I realise that in every moment there has always been a choice to change perspective, to step away from the pressures of expectations (no matter their origins) and just be more patient, grateful and positive. That change in perspective for me in ‘practice’ has meant:
- Waking up every morning with a desire, determination and assertion to ‘be’ patient, grateful and positive despite perceived pressures
- Deciding to ‘go with the flow’ for the smallest of moments that veer away from the plan. Those are the ones that make the most difference.
- Re-orienting priorities and reducing expectations
- Thinking of the worst-case scenario when faced with a dilemma. Accepting that ‘nothing is perfect and every effort counts’
- ‘Communicating’ patience, gratitude and positivity to our loved ones every day
- Making time for ‘laughter’
- The practice of virtues even amidst the chaos is paramount
While the hubby and I regularly discuss how blessed we are and how grateful we are for all we have in our lives, we seldom practice this gratitude as we go about our day. Maybe we think it or vocalise it occasionally but we forget to live it. Gratitude and Positivity go hand-in-hand. Being grateful automatically prompts us to be positive and the more positive we are, the more gratitude we are able to experience and impart these virtues to our kids.
With the expectations I had set for myself, the pressure has only continued to mount. I have realised that I have for the most part of every day, forgotten how to enjoy my present, and make every little moment count. The importance that I have subconsciously placed on achieving perfection has begun to overtake the actual importance of being content.
While we may not all find our virtues challenged at this same time, life brings upon unexpected circumstances when it is imperative that we stick to these life-giving virtues that help us overcome challenging times individually and as families. So here, I leave you with some encouraging quotes that inspire my own resolve to stay patient, grateful and positive. And on that note, ‘Resolutions’, here we come!
If you have virtues previously taken for granted and that you have re-discovered to make all the difference in tackling your day-to-day challenges, or creating habits, or achieving resolutions, please do share these with us by leaving a comment in the comments section below. I would love to hear from you!