Awareness of the Present Moment
Covid-19 is forcing us to be more present with what is happening moment-to-moment. Since we became aware of the virus, we have had to be very alert and present in our daily life, in order to prevent us from catching it. How many of us were truly present when we washed our hands before the pandemic? Yet now we have become more present with our hand washing, we even make sure we do it for the length it takes to sing Happy Birthday twice!
Even if one hasn’t been very mindful previously, how can we avoid being present to the smell of the alcohol based hand sanitisers, Dettol and bleach? The other day my therapy room smelled like a hospital clinic, after two days of continuous use of hand sanitisers.
Learning Appreciation
Whereas we were free to enjoy any amount of outdoor exercise. Suddenly the government said “Only 30 minutes of exercise once daily”. Suddenly we had to begin to clock watch when we exercised outdoors, in order to remain within the guidelines. We had taken for granted, the freedom to exercise as long as we wanted. Covid-19 has taught us the appreciation for freedom to exercise. Never had we questioned that before. During lockdown, some people took up exercise for the first time, just to be able to go out. In a certain country people even bought dogs, so that they could take them out for a walk twice daily, such was the boredom and the desire to go out!
Before the pandemic, when young people were with friends many of them had their heads in their mobiles, but then when lockdown was enforced they were no longer allowed to see their friends. They soon began to value social connection and began to miss their friends’ actual presence and longed to see them again. Suddenly their mobile phone was not so interesting, as they learned the value of Presence.
Previously we dashed here, there and everywhere and our partners were somewhat neglected but during lockdown we were forced to spend 24/7 with them. This soon helped us to refocus on our relationship and on the truth that our partners are usually the ones that stand by us in thick and thin over the years and help us get though so many life events. Even if we had had some issues with them, now we were forced to spend every minute of our day with them, so we had to get along with them and for many people, this sorted out their earlier relationship issues. In some cases being forced to be together all the time without distractions had terrible consequences and it is likely that the abuse that ensued will lead to separation. Perhaps the virus was a catalyst for a new life and healthier self esteem. The virus highlighted the fact that changes were due. Signs that had been there for a long time could no longer be ignored, as Covid-19 forced people to face a harsh reality.
Before the virus, those people who did not appreciate their job began to miss going to work, as having continuous free time and no obligations was realised as not perhaps as fun as they may had thought, not least because of the reduction in earnings, which has an impact on social life. A new appreciation for work arose in some people.
What about the liberty to eat what you want when you want? In the early stages of the pandemic, we had to be very mindful of how much we ate, as it seemed like the food may run out or we were too frightened to go to the shops, which in any case only let us buy 3 tins of soup, beans or fish etc. at any one time.
When we did eat something we were very appreciative. Some of us were so much more present with the food and its taste. So all this taking things for granted became a thing of the past and true value and appreciation arose in most of us. We realised how lucky we had been to have such great opportunities in life, such bounty, such wonderful families and friends, a regular job, a garden, the freedom to do what we want when we choose to or anything else that has been given freely to us by life itself.
True admiration arose for the unsung heroes. Many people expressed genuine appreciation towards the essential workers, those people who previously had laboured without being valued as they should be. Most of us where humbled by how they have risked their lives, in order to keep the rest of us safe. Most of us learned the true value of these wonderful people, only during the pandemic.
Increase in Kindness
It took the pandemic to increase the kindness quota in people. So many people rose to a community spirit and to exceptional kindness, during this difficult phase of our lives. Some people became truly helpful to others and brightened people’s lives in so many ways and will no doubt continue to do so. It is truly staggering how the virus has shown us that we are interdependent. All life is interdependent and it took a virus to teach us directly what spiritual teachings have been expounding for thousands of years.
The Two Sides of Covid-19
Covid-19 has undoubtedly a very devastating aspect to it and has brought with it so much tragedy and pain for thousands of people around the world. At the same time it has also forced us to draw upon some perhaps previously unseen inner strength and courage. We have had to look deep within and search for courage and inner strength to help us survive the uncertainty of the moment. Many have found that it is there, within us but that it needed a certain situation for us to really dig deep, in order to find it. As we know many people have had to draw upon their inner resources in order to pivot their work situation and finances. The reality is that we are stronger than we realise.
Optimistic Faith in Uncertainty
Even in this very moment of continuous uncertainty, we have to be optimistic that we won't catch the virus or that we will survive the virus, whilst adhering strictly to governmental rules. Furthermore, if money is scarce right now, then we must ‘keep up’ our optimistic faith. We must believe that things will work out well in the end, even if we don’t know how or when. It is typical to want to know what is happening and what will happen but Covid-19 is showing us that we have to learn to live in the present moment, with uncertainty, because that is the reality of life. Life is uncertain and it flows in its own way. We only have partial control. Yet this does not mean that it is necessarily negative. We must hold on to the message that we have been told. “We can get through this”. This is not the first time in history that life has presented us with difficulties and yet mankind continues. We need to hold on to optimistic faith, whilst living in the changeable present moment and whilst responding to what appears in in our lives, as it happens. This is mindful living.
Learning to live in the Present Moment
So far with the pandemic, we have been forced into the present moment, in order to avoid huge anxiety attacks about our health, work and financial situation and the future in general. Covid-19 has reorganised our priorities for us and helped us value that which was meant to be valued and shown us in an abrupt way, the stress of living in the mind i.e. the past or future. It has furthermore taught us how to live in the ‘now’, which is always uncertain. The virus has taught us that we are not able to escape these two fact about life - life is changeable and uncertain and that we must flow with the changes, in order to avoid personal suffering.
In many ways the virus has forced us to accept the unacceptable and shown us how to be with boredom, be with our loneliness, be without work, be without our extended families and friends and have less money and things and live a simpler life. Part of this experience has been very devastating and the other part has been an eye opener and a deep learning about ourselves and life.
Covid-19 brought about an exceptionally challenging time for parents. They were forced to ‘step up' and become teachers for their children, whilst the schools have remained closed. This naturally has brought many difficulties and extra responsibilities for the parents and yet in one way or another most managed to get through those difficulties. Life has shown them that they have more inner resources than they initially thought.
Learning to ‘BE’ and Enjoying the Present Moment
The virus has also forced many of us to learn to slow down, to even stop, to sit, with nothing to do and this has triggered anxiety within those who already suffer from anxiety. During lockdown we have had to simply ‘be’, with no special aim and with no purpose - just ‘being’. This was initially very difficult for many, as they had to accept the inevitable - facing their anxiety. Eventually a greater relaxation arose within some of these people.
At some point we started to enjoy being more present, noticing nature more, listening to bird song, we started eating together, two partners alone together, focusing on each other more than previously and families focusing on the family with no external distractions, spending quality time together. All of us amusing ourselves in simplistic ways, such as going for walks, bike rides, being creative and playing games together - all the things that we did not have time for previously. We also took to our computer screens to watch our loved ones through Zoom and other online applications. This situation teaches us to learn to be with what is happening in each moment.
We have been made to become more mindful. Life itself has shown us what is valuable, how to live and how to be, it has slowed us down and removed much of our external busy lives and repurposed our lives.
Life is Uncertain
In one sudden moment, life showed all of us that life is uncertain and that it is a constant change and that the best way to live one's life is simplistically, that we don't need as many things as we thought we did. It has taught us to be brave, to live for and to take care of each other and that we are part of a greater whole - a global family of beings. Through the more tragic events that have occurred during the pandemic, it has taught us to value others and the beauty and value of living gently and peacefully with each other. Whilst much anger and hatred has erupted, it has also united many of our hearts, by making our hearts grow fonder, appreciating nature and being grateful for everything that has been given us and it has taught us how to live in the moment - the only moment there ever is. Seeing the fish returning to the Venice canals and the animals returning to the cities and roaming so freely, we learned that life does very well without us. Lockdown has demonstrated that we are in truth quite destructive and that we are supposed to care for all beings and not just think about ourselves. We are supposed to co-live in harmony, with other and with our environment.
All nations have learned to live a little more mindfully and together we are taking baby steps in the direction of ‘one for all and all for one’. Most of us have at least, to some degree realised our interdependency. This has raised our world’s consciousness to encompass a greater degree of the reality of life - uncertainty, change and interdependency.
Learning to Embrace Uncertainty
We may not have realised this before, but it is only by embracing uncertainty that we can relieve ourselves of the burden of controlling most aspects of our lives, which is a source of constant stress. We now know that certain aspects of life cannot be controlled (no matter how good you are at applying the law of attraction) and that is a fact. Some things are totally beyond our control and they come directly from life to teach us what we need to learn and to embrace, in order to grow in unity, love and peace, for highest good of the greater whole. We would do well, in living in the now and rejoicing in those things that life presents us with, that can be enjoyed and be patient with the difficult things such as Covid-19, whilst knowing that this too shall pass, as the saying goes.
Let us continue to Live Mindfully
Let us continue to live mindfully, by living attentively in the present moment and work towards becoming harmonious and joyous co-creators with life. Even right now, we have the choice of what to allow in our minds, what to say and how to act. Covid-19 is not an obstacle to create a loving, peaceful and harmonious life for ourselves and for our loved ones. If we follow our hearts, we can create immense beauty and goodness and a better life for all our fellow beings.
I would like to end this article with the beautiful loving kindness meditation sentiment:
“May you be well, May you be happy, May you abide in peace, May you feel safe and secure, May you feel loved and cared for.”
My deepest blessings and well-wishes to all beings.❤️
Om Shanti
Katarina Tilley
For more information about mindfulness courses, please click on the following link: www.katarinatilley.co.uk/meditation