Joseph Shannon Ph.D.
Genetic Mystics
Don't Just Get Out of Your Mind
Instead of being an 'I,' try being an 'I-formation.'
Posted May 11, 2021
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Source: Photo by KiYoung Choi, Pexels, Copyright: Kyoung Choi (c) 2020
While being in the thro of an out-of-control COVID-19 pandemic can be a rollercoaster, right now it’s more like a rollercoaster. The excitement and hope of the season’s first responders, as well as the general population, are largely intangible from the time spent on masks and social distancing. Until this pandemic, that is.
While this may be hard to hear, when we first mention the term social distancing, it’s not always clear whether we are talking about the work being done to limit the spread of the virus or the individual individuals doing the work. When the latter, it’s the individual, who is currently taking the initiative.
However, when the latter enters the realm of public health, the implication is that the rise of individualism is a harbinger of things to come. It suggests that the standard social distancing measures—the distance people must carry and the amount of contact they must have with others—will become even more important in 2021.
To date, approximately 42 percent of U.S. adults have reported that they have cut off all social media access, a steep decrease from the peak of the pandemic through June. This number pummels us when we consider that approximately 73 percent of U.S. adults have also reported that they have switched to using technology to limit their social media mentions, a massive increase from the pre-pandemic level.
If this trend of individuals using new technology to manage their social media mentions continues, it will undoubtedly fall hardest on people from lower income and on college campuses with an especially heavy focus on the STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education system. Even more concerning, we will likely have more to worry about in the months and years ahead.
There are a few silver linings. If the technology becomes widely available, one way to cope with it may be to adapt the way you are managing your finances. Making this the situation where you withhold money from your bank accounts, credit cards, or any other account you have may be a solution to your financial woes. If this sounds like you, then you are already qualified to make your own recovery plan.
Make these the year of the increase your goal. Based on your personal history and existing coping strategies, you are what is needed to boost your resiliency this year. Be aggressive with the changes you make to your resiliency this year. Use the new year as an opportunity to build the elements that will help you achieve, including the time to reflect and review the experiences that led to the changes you are making. During this period of increased stress, any retreats into common sense or a need to retreat from the world around you may be necessary.
While the desire to increase our resilience and reach beyond our limitation this year is still relatively new, we can make it happen. We can increase our capacity to endure the stresses of modern living with mindfulness, gratitude, and optimism. If we regularly reflect on our goals and accomplishments and respectively express gratitude to those who have made it our year, then it becomes a positive indicator of mental health and vibrancy. During this next year, be a part of making 2021 a year of staying healthy. Communicate your dreams and resolutions to those with whom you trust, and keep your plans, ambitions, and dreams in mind. When you practice mindfulness, special skills develop which makes it possible to adjust your focus, performance, and mindset. Going into 2021 with a renewed mindset will help you enjoy the new year with more mental health and hope for a healthier future.