It’s 3pm on a Friday and I find myself staring out the window from my bed. The sun streams in and a moment later it’s grey and raining. The weather can’t seem to make up its mind which feels a lot like life at the moment.
March 13, 2020 was the day I finished writing my first book, a huge smile washed over my face as I hit save, attached it to an email and sent it off to my editor. Little did I know after spending three months in monk-mode, ticking off a life goal, that 3 days later I would walk into my first Melbourne lockdown. That was 16 months and 5 lockdowns ago now.
I don’t know about you, but this time, since nature decided to send us a clear message, feels blurred around the edges, it’s this weird combination of fast and slow, loss and awakening, grief and joy, all mixed into a melting pot with the dial turned to high.
I’ve been trying to work out who I am, what I stand for and how I truly want to live my life in a world that feels so technologically connected yet humanly disconnected.
I’ve explored, experimented, rediscovered, re-assessed and stressed.
I’ve watched plans I was excited about push out, and then push out again, to the point where sometimes I feel afraid to commit to a new date.
I’ve created a love-hate relationship with my phone. Compelled to check what’s going on, and to connect, whilst knowing it’s stirring an unsettled feeling within.
I’ve noticed my trust in information has significantly waned. Context and comparison feel like a consistent omission and confusion around what is fact is pervasive.
I’ve observed myself and those around me become more polarised in our views.
I’ve watched how I self-sabotage with wine and bad habits when I have those moments of 'here, we f**king go again'.
I’ve felt loneliness like never before even though I am not alone.
I’ve noticed how the elimination of random human connection that once entered my life daily has left a huge void.
I’ve heard my inner protestor rising as I watch livelihoods evaporate daily and mental health issues permeate every interaction...
... I have... and I wonder if any of this resonates with you? What myriad of feelings have you felt and what have you learnt about yourself in the time since COVID Life landed?
I ask because we can no longer afford to de-prioritise creating the space for feeling, the time to process feelings, to explore what they tell us about who we are and what we value. It’s fundamental to our ability to navigate the pace of change and scale of uncertainty with intention.
If like me, you’ve felt discombobulated, disorientated and distracted at all in this past year join me and create a little space for reflection using the following questions and see what happens:
Question 1
If the last 16 months were a chapter in a book about your life, what would you call the chapter and why?
For me, I think I’d call it deconstructed. I feel like I’m pulling apart all the pieces of my life and looking at them through a different lens. I’m considering how the pieces go back together so that I can shape a future that is in alignment with the simple things that bring me joy.
Question 2
If you were to start writing the next chapter of your book from this point forward, what would you call it and how would you shape it?
The Rise Of The Lotus. That’s what I would call mine. So, many times this past year I have thought of how a lotus grows. How it struggles through the mud in order to break through and bloom towards the sunlight.
None of us can predict what the future has in store for us but we can choose how we show up within it and inspire others in the process.
I’d love to hear what you call your chapters and what this exercise brought up for you. Feel free to reach out and share via hello@hackinghappy.co
For more tools and resources to build your mental wealth and inject more of what feels good into each day grab a copy of Hacking Happiness the book here
HackingHappy.co is on a mission to teach 10 million humans how to intentionally adapt by 2025 in order to future proof happiness. We are devoted to supporting you in creating the space, self-belief and the courage to realise the happiness you deserve. Want more happy in each day? Take your free Hacking Happy Assessment here.
