unpopular opinion: this pandemic has actually been good to me.

If you’re like me, quarantine started as not at all good for my mind, nor has it been kind to my mental health. My mind is always going one mile a minute. While I’ve always been an introvert and have enjoyed my space & solitude, the outside world contained many outlets for me that were merely distractions. When I couldn’t stop thinking, or turn off the thoughts in my head gnawing at my anxiety and peace, I would get out of the house and head to my favorite store, or I’d find myself looking for something, anything to do. When the world shut down, so did my scapegoats. I was forced to battle my demons… but I didn’t do it alone, and more importantly… I didn’t lose.

Some are being affected by this so negatively, they’re losing their minds. But that’s where the issue begins… within your mind. We often believe the mind is inescapable. It’s easy to drive yourself insane being stuck in the house when you’re compelled to think and think abstractly to keep yourself busy. Overthinking makes itself a nice home in your mind while you’re confined within the walls of your home. I know. It sucks. But have you ever realized you can turn your mind… off? Before I picked up the key that unlocked my peace, I didn’t know I could either.

I highly recommend picking up the book, "The Power of Now." It is a revolutionary book that was the key to my peace of mind. Eckhart Tolle suggests that the power of the mind is within the present moment. Often, we spend too much time dwelling on past — that has already happened — or the future that has not yet happened — which we often have a burning desire to control. We drift away from what the present moment offers us — peace. We lack nothing in the present moment according to Tolle. Any traces of negativity, anxiety, or worry that we have in the mind causes a resistance to the present moment. The author teaches that we shouldn’t combat our many thoughts or work too hard to stop them, but rather notice them and let them go. True peace and tranquility lie within the intimacy of the present moment.

Now, it’s easy to dismiss these teachings as many aren’t aligned with self-help guides or ideas of spiritual enlightenment of any kind. However, after being quarantined for 2-weeks and struggling to keep my sanity, I decided I was no longer going to be a victim of my thoughts. Ask yourself an honest question: do you think more than you do? Do you dwell on things that have already happened, or that you cannot control? Can you recognize right now, at this moment, you’re not 100% focused on the words you’re reading? If yes, to any of those, you struggle just like I do. It wasn’t until I read this book that I learned my mind can provide me with the peace I am in search of as long as I let it.

Shutting off the mind noise.

I’ve been able to improve the quality of my life by shutting off the noise in my mind. Simply, focus on your environment: what’s around you, see the colors of the walls, the plants, listen to the sounds around you instead of just hearing them. Acknowledge the thoughts that come and allow them to pass. I had to learn to stop focusing on yesterday — it has already passed. Stop focusing on tomorrow — it has troubles of its own. Live in the moment and you’ll live in peace. Pay attention to the absence and silence you crave, and claim it.

Practice makes permanent.

We’ve all heard that you can’t control what happens to you, but you can control how you respond. If you’re willing to make a change to the way you respond to happenings of life and all it comes with, you’ll find yourself implementing the teachings Tolle had to offer. Your thought patterns have become a part of you, and it will take practice and time to implement effective change… peace. It will take practice and time to recognize the chaos and to let it subside. You just have to be open and willing.

Positive Affirmations.

Light overcomes darkness, such as positivity drives out negativity. Eventually, affirmations become your reality. Studies show that positive affirmations lead to positive thinking; these are positive phrases or statements that you recite and believe wholeheartedly. Now, that doesn’t mean that you need to be a yogi, a spiritual Buddhist, or have any heightened level of or belief in spirituality to practice or believe in positive affirmations. Something as simple as, “I’m going to meet all my goals this week,” is a positive affirmation that you can use to mitigate all negative thoughts of inability to reach your goals or stress. The moment you begin to think you may not meet your goal or you’re running out of time, or you become overwhelmed with anxiety, reciting and remembering the positive affirmation you spoke for yourself will encourage you and shift your mindset. This is a practice that, if implemented daily, will allow your mind to pivot from the bondage of negativity and focus on the tasks at hand, or the present moment.

Silence.

Be still sometimes. There is power in recognizing silence and acknowledging it. Give yourself a break from time to time and be one with silence. Thoughts, noises, surroundings, even yes, a break from the kids. Even if that means a quick five minutes in the bathroom, take time to appreciate silence. Let your thoughts pass, and focus on nothing for a moment. If you practice this daily, you’ll find yourself less and less in the confines of your noisy mind.

If there’s anything I’ve learned about being stuck in the house, it has been more about myself. I’ve discovered better ways of dealing with overthinking, anxiety, and frustration. I’ve rediscovered old hobbies. I’ve read more books the past month than I have last year. It’s easy to withdraw from yourself and engage in distractions, but when you take that step of searching for something more meaningful & valuable, like the peace of mind, you realize that you can control your life beginning with your inner-self and a healthy mind.