Life constantly brings us opportunities for growth. Whether splayed out in front of our faces or disguised in trauma and hardship, humans are always faced with challenges we can either learn from or divert away from. This time of quarantine can be seen as a devastation, and by all means it is, but it can also be welcomed as a chance to hang out with yourself. Most people in our world today seek outside of ourselves to find purpose, fulfillment, and self acceptance. This could be through social media, friends and family, entertainment, and much more. However, that usually leads to disappointment or un-met expectations. Deep down, we may not truly feel the connection to happiness we are looking for.
As a world traveler and lover of multiple hobbies, I constantly get stuck in the cycle of searching outside of myself for things, places, or people that will “make me happy,” or help me find my purpose. That’s not to say one cannot find happiness or purpose in other people, places or activities, but in order to do so we must be in alignment with ourselves. We must understand our truth and own up to the responsibility that nothing in the world except ourselves is in charge of our happiness and purpose. Traveling and engaging in various events and people can enhance our inward journey, but we must not forget to acknowledge that, “everywhere you go, there you are.” My grandma told me that :). There is definitely no escaping yourself.
I believe as difficult and saddening this quarantine and the aftermath of this virus will be on the world, it has given many of us the beautiful opportunity to check in with ourselves and be silent. We have less distractions now that we can’t go out, less noise, less responsibilities to put first over ourselves. If you still hear the noise (in your head) and find yourself glued to the computer or watching movies, perhaps that is still you wanting to run away from yourself and put off this inward journey? Maybe now is the perfect, ironic time to just chill out and stop the noise; listen to what your subconscious tells you, or don’t listen at all and just be silent. Even if this time to be silent is just for ten minutes between homeschooling the kids, cleaning the house, applying for unemployment, and cooking dinner, that is enough. May this quarantine teach us to find our purpose within and come out stronger and more secure in the world.