Deciding who you’re going to be after the pandemic

It’s been a year of lockdowns and dramatic twists and turns. Who are you going to be after the pandemic eases? It’s time to choose.

by: E.B. Johnson

Although we had hoped for a dramatic change, 2021 is shaping up to be as stressful and chaotic as 2020 was. A great part of this chaos comes from the continued pandemic, which has claimed the lives of millions of people around the globe. We remain in various states of social distancing, and this has eroded our happiness and the way in which we see ourselves in the world. While we may never have been more uncertain, though, now is actually the time to choose — who do you want to be when this is all over? Because make no mistake, it will be.

There’s never been a better time to change.

As humans, we are creatures of habit and we don’t relish the idea of change. If anything, this pandemic has changed the way in which we live our lives in every fundamental aspect. Gone are the days when we could lose ourselves in endless social schedules and the demands of work and travel. We’ve been forced indoors, and with that we’ve been forced to look at ourselves and our society a little more clearly.

For too long we have ignored the ugliness and the powerlessness of our situation. Who are we? What do we want? When the world we know begins to crumble around us, these are fundamental questions to ask. And there’s never been a better time to ask them.

Are you one of the millions of people impacted by the pandemic financially, mentally, or emotionally? This point in history has pushed millions of people to the edge of the cliff, and now it’s time for them to choose a leap of faith, or a swift shove. Turning points in society have always been a good time to redefine who we are and what we want. Now is that moment for you. It’s time to build an intentional life for yourself, defined by your terms and your values.

Why it’s time to choose intentional lives.

We don’t have to go back to the traps we set for ourselves. We can build a new life and through that a new society that values respect and community over everything else. Before we can do that, though, we have to decide who we want to be. There’s no more time to play by the rules of others. It’s time to choose intentional lives for ourselves, and this is why.

We’re running out of opportunities

The pandemic isn’t the only hardship facing our planet or our society at the moment. The world is literally on fire with political and social turmoil, as well as climate change and the increasing uncertainty around things like water and resources. We’re running out of opportunities to be happy, and we’re running out of opportunities to heal ourselves and the damage we’ve inflicted on the planet and the people we love around us. If you don’t choose now, you may not get another chance.

We won’t be happy until we do

Happiness is defined differently by every single person on this planet. Some may find happiness in family, others may find happiness in material wealth. Whatever brings us happiness, we have to follow it — and not the things that bring other people’s happiness. The longer we do what other people want (over our own needs or desires), the more unhappy we will be. If the pandemic has delivered any lesson, it is that life is far too short for that.

We’re giving away our power

Every day seems to bring some new fear with it as we learn more and more about COVID-19 and the various new strains it brings with it. It’s easy to get caught up in the terror of it all. But by living in fear and toeing the line of someone else’s benefit, we’re denying ourselves a happy future and giving away our power to those who are able to make the most of it. Rather than bowing to fear, we have to take a step back, recalibrate our plans, and find a new pathway to getting where we need to be. We can’t afford to give up.

We don’t have any other choice

It would be hard for many living to remember a time that had left so many so devoid of choice. Millions of people are losing their lives, their homes, and the work they depend on to live. If you’re one of these people who has had their world stripped out from under them, then you’ve had your choices stripped too. It’s time for you to triumph and overcome, because you don’t really have any other choice. You can either be destroyed or decide who you want to be and what future you want to create for yourself. Sink or swim.

How to decide who you’re going to be after the pandemic.

So, who are you going to be after this pandemic? What world are you going to build for your family, or leave for future generations? We don’t have to play by the rules set by those before us. We can be ourselves and lead authentic lives. The choice comes down to us and the actions we choose from this moment forward. It’s time to reconnect with our passions, enhance who we are, and believe in our right to be happy and fulfilled.

1. Reconnect with your passions

You’re probably feeling really lost right now, and you’re probably feeling as though you’re standing on sinking ground. You’re not alone. Millions of us feel as though our world has been shaken up in a snow globe and we don’t know what’s up or down. We have to transcend shakiness and ground ourselves back in reality. Sure, our world is changing. It’s not ending, though. There’s still plenty of passion to plug in to all around.

Reconnect with your passions and find the spark and the interest in your life again. Though the world may be shifting all around you, you can still find experiences, people, and opportunities that provide you with a sense of meaning and investment in your life and the world.

What do you love to do? How can that be brought into the current moment to help you cope, create, or just distract yourself from the hopelessness for a little while? Even a superficial activity can have powerfully transformative benefits when it comes to improving the way we feel about the future. Chase your interests and those things which engage you or make you feel happy again.

2. Boost your skills levels

Part of choosing who we want to be (and the life we want to lead) requires that we have the skill to create and manage something for ourselves. Success and abundance don’t just fall into our laps. It’s something that has to be worked for and it’s something that can only be defined by us. If you want to build a new life you can step into when the pandemic fades, then you need to boost your skill levels and get the ability to back it up.

There’s never been a better time to increase or enhance the skills you have. Across the web, millions of online courses and mutual interest groups have formed, giving you the chance to learn an array of topics and abilities that can improve the quality of your life and understanding.

Want to start your own online business? There are endless resources that can get you started on the right path with minimal investment. Are you looking to build better social networks for yourself, or friend groups you can rely on — there’s literally no end to the apps and websites that are there to help you manage this goal. You can improve your mental, emotional, and social life from your home. It’s all in how you choose to boost yourself.

3. Upgrade your social circles

You may not think of the current moment in time as a “social” one, but in many ways it is. We’ve never relied on one another more emotionally, calling and texting our friends at all hours of the day to express our dismay and our disbelief at the state of the world. We can’t rely on the wrong people, though, and expect our lives to get better. Rather than looking to those who also only see the limitations, now is the time to upgrade our social circles and look to those who see the possibilities.

Times are negative enough as they are. Don’t spend all your time investing in people who are even more negative. We don’t need to give our energy to people who only see a way to be small in the world. We need to give our energy to those who see how big this moment could be for us; those who encourage us to do our best, even when hope is small.

Quit the endless gripe sessions and stop giving away the limited social time and energy you have to those who pump more negativity into your life. Fighting will do you no good right now. Competing with one another, or worrying about petty drama will do nothing but hold you back. Align yourself with those who are aligning themselves with a better future. We are lifted up by surrounding ourselves with those who elevate themselves.

4. Brainstorm new opportunities

Looking back over history, there are a lot of patterns you start to identify. Chief among these is the creation of power, which shifts and changes each time society itself shifts and changes. Downturn in fortune for one person always equals the upturn in fortune for someone else. You could be one of those that rises on the next upturn, but you’re going to have to intentionally create opportunities for yourself.

Not where you want to be in life? Now is the time to take a step back and look at your existence for what it really is. Where are you in this moment? Where do you want to be in 5, 10, or 15 years? Draw these two points and then figure out what needs to go between them.

How do you get from this starting place to a life rich with abundance? Brainstorm new opportunities for yourself. Look for the doors and the windows that open up on the life you want to live. Who do you need to align yourself with? Who do you need to come out of this lockdown as in order to achieve the success you want? If you’re truly hungry for a better life, you’ll take the time to identify every opportunity you can and then make them for yourself.

5. Elevate your self-confidence

So many had their confidence completely destroyed by the pandemic and the ensuing social chaos that’s divided us in more ways than one. It’s impossible to build a life that’s full, active, and authentic when you don’t believe inherently in your worth and your ability to thrive. Before you can set out on a new path, that’s right for you, you need to re-establish your self-esteem.

Elevate your self-confidence. You are a strong and capable person who is going to come out on the other side of this to a world that’s very different from the one you live in right now. Use this time to embrace and invest in who you are, just as you are now. You’re enough, and you’re worthy of thriving.

Every morning, name (out loud, in the mirror) at least 3 things you love about yourself. Make eye contact with your reflection and don’t look away as you voice the physical characteristics and skills you adore about yourself. When you come home at night, or settle down for bed, write down 3 things you did well that day. At the end of every week, come back to these lists and recall your successes. Celebrate and reward yourself for being the best.

Putting it all together…

We are living through uncertain times, but that doesn’t mean we have to get washed away in the sadness and hopelessness of it all. The day isn’t over. There is still time to live a life that is aligned to our true happiness. We can decide who we want to be after this pandemic, and we can begin to build that life for ourselves. But it requires looking at things differently and committing to our truths and positive, mindful action.

Reconnect with your passions or those things in life which make you feel empowered and fulfilled. Our passions give us meaning and connect us with people and opportunities meant for us. Lean into your authenticity and invest in bettering yourself through the learning of new skills and abilities. Make yourself a benefit to the world and you will learn to benefit from the world around you. Upgrade your social circles and surround yourself with people who raise your vibrations and encourage you to do the best you can for yourself. Brainstorm new opportunities and stop waiting for people to open the door for you. This life is what you make it, and that includes the abundance you manifest. Elevate your self-confidence and believe in yourself. You have a right to thrive, and you will. Follow your gut and then let your brilliant mind do the rest.