Everyone can agree that 2020 was rough. And even though vaccines have begun, and the current crisis will pass, it is inevitable that other rough years and crises will come.
As you set goals and make plans for the new year, begin by reflecting on the last one. There were many circumstances out of our control, but the ways we respond to our circumstances are a result of our own physical, emotional, and spiritual health. You may have noticed that your coping mechanisms for stress weren’t healthy or helpful when the source of the stress lasted months.
I’ve been thinking lately, if my kids’ schools shut down again and we were going to spend all day, every day together, what routines and attitudes could I help them develop now? What routines and attitudes should I develop?
What communication skills could I develop so that when my husband and I experience another stressful season we can do it with more empathy and grace?
It’s not only a matter of planning for the worst-case scenario and it’s certainly not a pessimistic approach. Committing to growth and making adjustments will make our lives richer in the of best times, too.