In This Article
By Ellen Palestrant
Many are facing, in different ways, unexpected and uninvited life-challenges as we live our lives in pause—and the cause, a global pandemic.
We have entered a period of the great unknown, indeed a challenging zone in which we all find ourselves. In the past, we might have had to pause, perhaps, because of relocations, family situations, or job losses but this is different. This is a collective pause and one that is currently affecting each of us, albeit in varying ways.
Years of hard work, plans and dreams—for the future may be on hold or are, in fact, no longer possible in the way we had anticipated. How are we all facing this ever-extending, at times, seemingly unending, period in our lives? How are we and how are you meeting these new challenges?
How Adaptable Are You?
I am amazed at the innovation and adaptability of so many people who, once the shock of their new reality set in, started to adjust to the circumstances in which they now found themselves. They created their lives with ever-increasing versatility and yes, practicality. What do you do when you can no longer go to your usual place of work and especially, what do you do if you have never worked remotely?
It is always hard to do something for the first time but eventually it does become familiar and you wonder why you ever thought it was so hard in the first place. Social distancing is difficult, but for the most part, people are doing their best. This, even though they are distanced not only from people with whom they loved to be, but from many of the activities with which they had liked to engage.
How are you adapting to these new circumstances in which you currently find yourself? Life pauses of course can be positive and even give you a chance to reinvigorate yourself—but only if they were the choices that you, voluntarily, had made. However, an unpredicted and unpredictable one caused by a global pandemic will require adaptability, both physical and emotional, for your health and mental well-being.
While life as you once knew it may be in pause, it is essential to care for your mental health and to acknowledge to yourself that you are demonstrating endurance. Yes, do pat yourself on your back and say to yourself, “I have what it takes to see these difficult times through.” Being kind to yourself should never be put on the back burner. Yes, be proud of your adaptability and continue to live up to the standard you have now set for yourself.
Can a Pause in Life Be an Opportunity?
You can live a life in pause with positivity, and be quite amazed at the possibilities that abound and the opportunities that come from these. Many people see their professions as their main self-definition but really, we all have the capacity to be more than one thing. Certainly, now is a time to explore the different facets of ourselves.
It is a good time to have a meeting with ourselves, with those unknown aspects of our beings, and grow beyond what we thought were our boundaries. It is time to realize our additional potential. With all of life’s unpredictable changes, we can and do find opportunities to grow in surprising new directions—if we allow ourselves to be open to the new. So, let’s make room for fresh opportunities and embrace the unfamiliar without chiding ourselves when we don’t succeed at first.
This is indeed a time for generosity and kindness to others, and also, to ourselves. Not being overly self-critical and inviting in fresh visions is indeed a productive way to cope with the challenges we face. Don’t prejudge yourself and instead, allow in the flow of limitless ideas, some of which won’t work out, but others might!
Old or new hobbies, continuing self-education, self-care and nurture, are not only stress relievers but also, mood-optimisers. You might use the time to reflect on your life. You never know, from that you might gain valuable insight that will help you as you move into the future.
What Do We Do?
When you view a life pause as a positive experience, you have the opportunity to reshape the trajectory of your own life. This is a time to focus on your mental health by embracing burgeoning interests, trying a new hobby, practicing and perfecting an existing skill and generally, getting in touch with and embracing your creative side.
Interestingly, how we each individually deal with a life in pause is an indication of who we are. Ask yourself: How much time am I dedicating to sustaining good emotional and mental health? How do I nurture my mental well-being? What have I found that effectively relieves my stress? And at the end of this period, what kind of person do I hope actually, to become?
How Am I Going About Living My Life in Pause?
I, personally, have been busy—very busy with many projects, from a biographical video to a great deal of writing. I have written three poetry books, one of which is complete—illustrations and all. I have finished the poems for the other two and am presently illustrating them. What fun! Many of the poems are satirical and funny with much word-play. Humor is a wonderful palliative to the heaviness with which we are surrounded.
I am also painting. When I create, I feel that there is an ongoing communication with my artwork. I tell it where to go and it tells me where to go. My tools become an extension of my own energy and lead me to create more and more artwork. During times like this, I find it helpful to remember that one of the many wonders of being human is our ability to imagine. I take this time to explore areas that bring me joy. Being engaged in creativity is a mood-enhancer and an antidote to negativity and the reality of a global pandemic.
Have You Ever Tried Creating Fantasy?
I am comfortable with turning off my intellectual mind for a while and allowing myself to be transported to other domains, to other extensions of myself. My starting point for creativity is a sense of wonder. Creating fantasy starts within me, that is my capacity to be open to imaginative sojourns into wherever they might take me. Try it yourself by allowing the free flow of ideas and images. You might really enjoy exploring your unrealized desire to journey into your own, unique spheres of possibilities.
How Do We Reinvent Ourselves?
It would be hard for me to be severed from the creative process, a process that has helped me to grow, learn, and live life with joy and engagement. Therefore, I will continue to imagine, paint, and write about fantastical, luminous, joyful worlds of brilliant colors even when life around me is paused. How about you? What actions are you considering taking for the rest of the year and beyond while much of our lives are on hold?
Exercising both your body and your mind is a prerequisite to good mental health, so what are your plans for ensuring you keep that lightness of being within you? Can you make this time you have spent in pause beneficial to you and to others as well not only for now, but also for the future? A pause might be a digression from what you used to do, but it can also be a progression into something wonderful and new!
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Ellen Palestrant is a South African-born artist, writer, filmmaker, creativity consultant and college instructor. Her art, writing and talks are woven together by a unique thread of creativity that winds through her essence and her belief that creativity is a “companion for life.”
Find out more:
https://ellenpalestrant.com/art/
https://ellenpalestrant.com/the-coronavirus-a-personal-creative-marathon/
