Covid-19...

We've never been here before.

This time.

This place. 

This climate. 

This uncertainty.

This new way of life can be scary. Many of us are losing. We're losing our jobs, we're losing our friends, we're losing loved ones. We may even feel like we're losing our minds.

But we keep pushing through.

We tell ourselves, that this is just a part of life. Who has not known pain and anguish? Who has not suffered the wounds of a relationship discord?  We acknowledge that problems are challenges life casts our way from time to time.  

We navigate through the detours and face dead-ends in our journey. We set sail, aware of the possibility of the stormy weather that can develop overnight. But we are determined to ride out the storm and not get lost in it. We are determined not to drown. 

At times, we take more than we can handle. We are caught up in giving ourselves to the call of duty. We tend to justify the demands on our time and energy. We forget that the world will go on, with or without us.

And we keep pushing through.

Life goes in cycles - sometimes the cycle is up, then it goes down, like the spokes of a wheel. Sorrow and grief comes to everyone sooner or later. And we are all  grieving the life we once knew. A grieving heart affects the mind, body and spirit deeply. Sometimes the pain is buried so deeply where no one can reach it, much less touch it.

Frustrations, failures, relationship issues, career and family concerns, financial issues, health problems and having too much on the plate all can add up to a lot of stress. Stress can debiliate us. Stress is a silent killer. 

Do you listen to the signs your body sends to slow down or take a much needed rest? There is only so much pain or suffering one can bear. There is a limit to human endurance.

When peace becomes elusive and our perspective is not as sharp, there is too much clutter in the mind. It helps to get away from the source of conflict to gain a better perspective and to re-group your thoughts. 

You have to give yourself permission to step away and take a breather. This is not running away from our problems, our problems are still hovering over, waiting to be fixed. But taking a respite from it all paves the way to healing the accumulated emotional and mental stress. Anxiety and worry can cloud anyone’s judgment.

Perhaps, there is a need to cut yourself some slack for now. 

Perhaps you need to take this time to re-evaluate and re-assess your priorities.

Perhaps you need to stop pushing through.

Use this as a time to step back and look after your own needs, for once. Relax, catch your breath, even for a short time, because you have to take the next step. The battle is not over.

Plan for the the next stage in your life. Pull yourself together, empower yourself so that your thoughts and actions are in harmony with your highest truth of who you are. Re-evaluate your beliefs and let go of the things that no longer serve you. 

Retreating is a good start-you can choose to retreat from all that is worrisome, confusing and aggravating. Quiet time and time alone to reflect is a good way to get energized and prepare for what's ahead. 

This is the time to recharge your energies. It is a time to heal; mind, body and spirit. It is a time to recognize the chaos and confusion that can cause disillusions and delusions and make peace elusive. We can take this time to forgive what needs to be forgiven. Forgiveness can be liberating. 

Give yourself permission to retreat...

Retreating can be renewing.

Retreating can be refreshing.

Retreating can be restoring. 

Creating space to retreat can help us heal. Deep wounds need healing and this takes time. 

Remember, time is a great healer, if you let it do its job.