Something that I have had to address in my shadow work while processing this pandemic, is that social distancing isn't personal. My knee-jerk reaction is to assume people don't want to be around ME, that I'm unclean or diseased. One of the biggest fears I have is that I will be, that I am being, rejected. That I'm not good enough, that people don't like me. That I have nothing to contribute and the reason someone protecting themselves is because they are worth it and I'm not.
But not only is that not the case, even if it were, if I am my own person, then I have both the dignity and self-respect to recognize that I have my own reasons to protect myself. Whether for love of people in my close proximity to keep safe or even simply for love of self, I don't need to feel other than, even when my wounded Self wants to feel victimized.
Once again this all relates back to boundary-setting, which was a hard-won lesson for me, and a reason why it is hard to not feel offended when others have more sturdy precautions than I do. But of course I want to practice self-isolation, and when I need to be in public to use social distancing, if only for my own health. My health is just as valuable as anyone else's, and recognizing this has sadly had to be an affirmation for myself.
Setting up boundaries isn't about a person actually being sick, and it's not meant to be offensive, it's simply about doing our part in a scary time to work together. And in that way, it's not personal, it's not about ME, it's about everyone, collectively. If anything, this time of physical separation has brought us together collectively, because for the first time maybe ever, we have one common goal, and that is really special.
In this time we don't have to feel alone. We have electricity which means we have the Internet, and when we have the Internet, we have a way to connect that is immune to bodily diseases. May we all work together to keep ourselves focussed and to exchange helpful information, both on how to stay healthy physically, and to continue to support self-isolation and social distancing, but also spiritually, where we might inspire each other and encourage each other with teachings and creativity.
The real battle is now in the mind, knowing our limits and establishing boundaries even within ourselves, such as placing disciplines on ourselves with diet, exercise, and sleep schedules. When I take care of myself I am less likely to fall into desperate thinking, and I can then continue to reach out to others in a productive and meaningful way through social media.
Boundaries are not to hurt me, they are to help me, and when we come out of this pandemic on the other side, we might very well have a beautiful new social code of mutual love and respect.
But not only is that not the case, even if it were, if I am my own person, then I have both the dignity and self-respect to recognize that I have my own reasons to protect myself. Whether for love of people in my close proximity to keep safe or even simply for love of self, I don't need to feel other than, even when my wounded Self wants to feel victimized.
Once again this all relates back to boundary-setting, which was a hard-won lesson for me, and a reason why it is hard to not feel offended when others have more sturdy precautions than I do. But of course I want to practice self-isolation, and when I need to be in public to use social distancing, if only for my own health. My health is just as valuable as anyone else's, and recognizing this has sadly had to be an affirmation for myself.
Setting up boundaries isn't about a person actually being sick, and it's not meant to be offensive, it's simply about doing our part in a scary time to work together. And in that way, it's not personal, it's not about ME, it's about everyone, collectively. If anything, this time of physical separation has brought us together collectively, because for the first time maybe ever, we have one common goal, and that is really special.
In this time we don't have to feel alone. We have electricity which means we have the Internet, and when we have the Internet, we have a way to connect that is immune to bodily diseases. May we all work together to keep ourselves focussed and to exchange helpful information, both on how to stay healthy physically, and to continue to support self-isolation and social distancing, but also spiritually, where we might inspire each other and encourage each other with teachings and creativity.
The real battle is now in the mind, knowing our limits and establishing boundaries even within ourselves, such as placing disciplines on ourselves with diet, exercise, and sleep schedules. When I take care of myself I am less likely to fall into desperate thinking, and I can then continue to reach out to others in a productive and meaningful way through social media.
Boundaries are not to hurt me, they are to help me, and when we come out of this pandemic on the other side, we might very well have a beautiful new social code of mutual love and respect.
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