Psychologue: 2021: Issue One
Reflections from Indonesia
Hi, welcome to 2021. The pandemic is still happening, but life also continues. It has been almost one year we are in this stormy time. Yes, we are all in the same storm, but in different boats. Everyone responds variously to this situation. We might experience the same emotions such as anxiety, worries, panic, anger, and other emotional aspects. We might feel terrified by the virus. We needed to isolate ourselves. We could not gather together with our families, relatives, and friends. We have to proctect ourselves as well as others. We face death. Many lost their jobs.Seeing students, emplyoyess, staff, and other people studying, working, doing presentation etc. behind a screen, online. It is very difficult for all of us.
The tough situation and condition as said above, not only experienced by certain people but most of us tends to lead to depression. We really are in hard times along the year 2020 and it seems like it will keep going on. None of us knows when this pandemic will end. It is easy for us to give up. We might reflect ourselves by asking a question such this, “do we still have a future?” I remember a verse written in Hudson’s book “The Adult Years”, saying that, “There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun.”
Referring to this verse, I see and am convinced that there still hope for us. The universe still turns and gives us light to move on, to reach our dreams. This pandemic season will not stop us to achieve our wish and hope. Through this writing I would like to encourage each of us to take a small step in overcoming this storm. What is the small step? For me the small step is to take care of ourselves, our wellbeing. By practicing self-care we are enabled to see the hope and go on in progress. Also, we could take care of others who need our support when we can take care of ourselves. They might be our loved ones in our family. They might be our dear friends and colleagues. They can be our community.
These reasons may help us see the importance of wellbeing. Our wellbeing will:
- Help us to make our mood more positive
- Bring balance and harmony within ourselves so we can function more optimally
- Improve our creativity, joyfulness, and awareness
- Maximize our potential and ability to become the best of us
- Enable us to gain resilience, toughness, the physical and mental strength to deal with the stress and tension
- Decrease our restlessness, anxiety, depression, trauma, etc.
By having wellbeing we can feel good about ourselves and are able to function well individually and socially. We also could see most opportunities and feel a sense of purpose. Wellbeing will help us to cope with the challenges we face, especially in this pandemic. By possesing wellbeing, we are able to be mindful for what we are doing and be aware of our mental health.
If we have a healthy mental state, it makes us easier to believe that this tough time will pass by. There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the sun, a time to tear down and a time to build, a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance. For the next article i will share what we can do to practice healthy self-care and wellbeing.
As always, I will give thank to Thee who has blessed me with the recognition of the wonderful Dr Bergquist and other lecturers, who have allowed me to experience this great journey of trusting, caring, and loving here. I never imagined that I could study with world citizens in PSP. Once again many thanks to PSP and other colleagues and alummni for this opportunity of knowing you through this writing. We are together still, in the same strom but in different boats.
Blessings,
Clara Gia Shinta
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- Posted by William Bergquist
- On February 15, 2021
- 0 Comment