I felt a little pain the night before and I thought about the pandemic. the kind of feeling I do have whenever I am air bound. What if I do not have another chance to make amendments and realign with my purpose and creator?
I appreciate every day and make use of my time judiciously considering I may not have a second chance to make amendments. These are moments you have to communicate and realign with your creator, yourself and your purpose.
As the days and months go on, the unknown qualities of the pandemic may be alleviated. But in the meantime, we need spiritual practices to lessen the impact of fear and uncertainty. These practices will help us with reflection on our lives not intended to sugarcoat or minimize the very real dangers of this global health emergency. But they can help us deal with the associated stress, accept what we cannot change, and build up our resilience. Here are a few practices for you to try.
Embrace your fear. Fears seem to come in bundles. A fear about catching the coronavirus may be accompanied by other fears — of death, losing a loved one, isolation, financial problems, and more.
Accept uncertainty. When we are worried or distraught, it helps to realize that something is not certain. In regards to the coronavirus, there is a lot of uncertainty.
Take a respite from negativity. It is important to stay informed about the pandemic, but constantly reading or watching the news may water the seeds of worry and despair inside you and negatively affect your immune system.
Receive what comes. Tomorrow builds on the understanding that our worries and dreams are derived from our thoughts about tomorrow and “Tomorrow, after all, does not yet exist.”
Practice as You Take Preventative Measures
See that life is good. “The Bible says, ‘Taste and see that life is good.’ This statement stands up to fear and laughs in its face. . . . Say it to yourself.” [M
Wash your hands. Those moments are perfect for reciting a mantra or short prayer.
Stock up on medicines and other remedies to reduce your symptoms or help you cope. As you do so, add intercessory prayers to your regime.
Check supplies of food and household goods. As you shop and store these items, say a prayer of gratitude for the chain of supply that brought them to you: the farmers, manufacturers, truckers, stores, delivery services, etc. Use this moment to remind yourself of how dependent you are on the services of others.
Listen to your body. If you are not feeling ill, it can still be helpful to survey your body and see what it has to tell you. How do your head, nose, throat, chest, abdomen, legs, and feet feel today? What can you learn from your body by giving it this extra attention?
As You Practice Social Distancing and If You Are Quarantined
Because it may be up to 14 days after exposure to the virus before symptoms show up, the CDC is recommending that everybody practice social distancing (avoiding crowds, staying six feet away from other people); this can break or slow down the rate of transmission from person to person. Those who think they may have come in contact with the virus are being asked to self-quarantine for two weeks. Many retirement facilities are requiring that anyone who has traveled by sea or air stay home for two weeks upon their return. So these are good times for some practices around your house.
Bless your house. Many people host a blessing ceremony when they move into a new house, and for Christians, Epiphany is traditionally a time to do a house blessing. If you are going to be spending more time in your home because of social distancing or quarantines, make your house feel special by doing a ceremony. Be grateful for your bed. Appreciate the things around you. The objects, tools, and appliances in your home will come in handy during an extended stay there. “Before going to bed make a list of these objects. Reflect on the efforts it took to invent, design, manufacture, package, and ship these objects so they might make your life a bit easier or more enjoyable.”
Listen to music and Watch sad movies. In difficult times, it is important to express our emotions, including our sadness and despair. The spiritual traditions honor the “gift of tears” and have found ways to ritualize it. One of our rituals is to watch movies that draw out our feelings of connection with others in their suffering and pain.
Accept your situation. Rather than adding to your stress by complaining or asking why you had to get sick, try affirmations and prayers to be at ease with your situation. Here are two possibilities:
Recognize your unity with others. As we are instructed on how to navigate our daily lives and minimize the risks to ourselves and others during the pandemic, one truth becomes clear: We are all in this together. What each of us does — and doesn’t do — can have an impact upon the spread of the virus. It’s about seeing the connections, the interlocking webs of energy among people and things, and residing as much as possible in that place of no separation.” At the end of each day, spend a few minutes in self-assessment, identifying those moments when you were reminded most forcefully of your connection with others.
Welcome the sweet fragrance. Let your thoughts focus on the way time passes, and remind yourself that with courage and goodwill, a sweet fragrance will come even from the difficulties that you currently find yourself in.
Sources : www.spiritualityandpractice.com