Wellbeing
Snow drops springing up near the Arts Space (nicknamed 'the flower of consolation' by soldiers in the Crimean War)
The ‘crisitunity’ of now
Amidst the perceived chaos, there is at least one thing we can always turn to with complete confidence: the future is uncertain. This has never changed. The future is always uncertain. Change is the only constant in life. There are always uncertainties and potentials that can’t be accounted for. If we are to mitigate the debilitating anxieties which have been rising in pandemic proportions, we need to remind ourselves of who we are, where we come from, and where we want to be heading. It is what we can control, how we choose to perceive these challenges and how we choose to act which needs to concern us the most if we are to prosper from this crisis and opportunity.
Your valid perspective shapes you
From birth we learn to rely on our primary caregivers. As we grow, we begin to understand that we have some influence in our various spheres. The more we test our boundaries, the more we can come to understand the consequences of our actions for ourselves and the world around us. Depending on our way of life, our culture, our societal position, our biological predispositions, our outlook, we come to find ourselves at a place in time that affords us a unique perspective on the world. This perspective is valid. This is important to remember, for as a human, you have rights, responsibilities and agency.
This agency, relative to your unique place in the world, is yours to exercise as you best see fit. This agency could also be termed sovereignty. You are free to be a sovereign agent if you should so choose. We are all born into certain contracts, and we continue to give away our free will, mostly unwittingly with every set of terms and conditions we neglect to read. We further compromise our agency through subscribing to the broader socio-political paradigms that are ever-present within our lives.
When we are swept up in the latest sensationalised media headline, intentionally designed to activate our fear response, we can lose our power. When we blindly accept information as fact without questioning its intention or validity, we can lose our power. When we choose to consume the latest entertainment, without analysing the potential effect it may have on how we will integrate and then reconstruct our personal and social realities, we expose ourselves to the potential condemnation of subservience. You have the choice as a sovereign free will being to engage with these things at whatever level you feel comfortable.
Take control of your reality
In the same vein, engaging with the current situation surrounding the global pandemic is your choice. There are various consequences for choosing to do so. If you choose to say ‘whatever’ and go about your life in any way you wish, there may be social, health and legal ramifications. If you choose to constantly engage with the news media and cloud your sphere with things you can’t control, there will likely be anxious and stressful consequences. If you choose to moderate your life with a balanced smattering of awareness, goal setting and personal development, you may find this time to be a blessing in viral-shaped disguise.
Our level of awareness regarding this social responsibility has shifted. This shift is for the benefit of all. This is a beautiful thing. Health is a great leveller. No matter who you are, you are still a human. You were born, you need oxygen, social connection, joy, and, you will one day die. Reminders of our mortality can be taken in many ways. An optimistic view of this fact may remind us of the precious nature of our human existence and, hopefully, motivate you to finding ways to ideally experience your existence altruistically. Such motivation may provide you with a path to contentment.
As certain as the sunrise
As previously highlighted, there are no real certainties in life. There are no certainties that the sun will rise tomorrow, but we have faith that it will. Predictions based on cosmological movements are relatively certain, however the universe is more unpredictable than we give it credit for. Science gives the sun a 99.990002% chance of rising tomorrow. When our faith is challenged, it is unsettling. When we externalise our faith, place it in the hands of others or ideologies of a system, we disempower ourselves. There are some aspects of the future that we require to be certain of in order for society to function. When we have faith in ourselves, the world around us may crumble, yet we can remain ever strong, vigilant and focused on our purpose. Adaptation is key to coping with change; riding the waves, rolling with punches, changing with the seasons. Without opportunities to do so, we have no way of knowing how. This time is a great opportunity to begin this process.
Understanding the nature of change and transitions and how best to deal with it relative to your context is important for how you choose to move forward. ReachOut Australia has a very helpful list which includes:
o Think things through and ask ‘what’s the worst that can happen’
o Ask yourself how much you can control
o Accept and reframe
o Celebrate the positives
o Take action
o Manage your stress
o Seek support
All of these are highly valuable concepts which I would encourage everyone to choose to engage with.
FOMO no more
Preshil would have been in full swing right now. There would usually be no way I'd be able to be sprawled out on the couch in the library typing away without being accosted by the Years 10/11 who would be argy-bargying for this prime position. Silver linings! We would have been catching up face-to-face, seeing the inevitable yet unknowable changes in our friends and teachers (and Charlie) that have occurred over the holiday break. We would have been experiencing all of the micro-interactions which remind us we are part of a community, and be able to get into the mindset that we were at Preshil again, and ready to learn.
In this regard - lots has changed; the shoulda, coulda, woulda mentalities are persistent; persistently unhelpful. Knowing that we are fortunate enough to be blessed with a gifted teaching staff who has been readily preparing a comprehensive and unique program for the students’ benefit is comforting. Knowing that we all have the agency to choose to connect with our peers and teachers telephonically, virtually and in person (safely) may also be comforting. Knowing that you now have more time to choose to engage with your interests, hobbies or skill-set is exciting. Choice is the key. Choice is another constant for the privileged and, in this regard, not much has changed.
Choose o Your o Destiny
Learning to see your world through a lens of the choices with which you are privileged may see your outlook shift to positive. Reminding yourself of the benefits that can come from having more time spent working on your favourite things is helpful. Learning to refocus, reassess and reframe the stressors and challenges we face to our locus of control is valuable. If we are able and ready to adapt constructively to the constant barrage of challenges the world provides us with, each crisis will become an opportunity for learning and growth. Like Homer Simpson, it is important to embrace these ‘crisitunities’ if we are to keep our focus and prosper in this ever-changing world.
Amir Tatai
Wellbeing Coordinator