As a nation, we entered into 2020 with high hopes and tons of goals for what many of us anticipated to be the year of focus and 20/20 vision. For some, halfway through the year, we would be revisiting our vision board, preparing for graduation, stepping on the scale to see how far we are from our weight loss goals, and checking our bank accounts to see how far we are from those financial goals.
But instead we are in the midst of what seems to be a never-ending pandemic. So far, 2020 has brought us isolation and a shortage of toilet paper, groceries and hand sanitizer. While we can focus on the difficulties and challenges of these current times, a positive outlook and mindset is the cleanest bill of health we all can ask for.
As we all continue to navigate during this pandemic, I would like to invite you all to turn the negative to a positive. This pandemic has been a blessing in the rarest form. When we sit back and think about the opportunities this pandemic has created for us, we can begin to find a way to appreciate COVID-19. During this pandemic, many of us have had the opportunity to slow down, get some much-needed rest, spend quality time with our family, and explore the great indoors with much creativity. Others have invested more time and energy into physical health and cleanliness.
As we are embracing this “new norm” of social distancing, face coverings, intimate gatherings and constant sanitation, let’s not underestimate the power of the mind. Our minds are powerful. We can invent, create, experience and destroy things with thoughts alone. One of my favorite scriptures talks about the importance of setting your minds on things above, not on earthly things. The things that we see happening on this earth can be disheartening, but our mind is always prepared to process the good in the midst. We just have to remember: It’s mind over the matter.