The overwhelming stress related to the Covid-19 pandemic seems to have negatively affected the mental health and well-being of many people, who report symptoms of anxiety, depression, difficulty with sleeping or eating, increases in alcohol consumption and the deterioration of chronic conditions.

Opportunity to encounter ourselves

The stay-at-home orders force us to live in social isolation, nevertheless, they also provide us an opportunity to encounter ourselves as perhaps never before. We are deprived of many of the activities that we were occupied with on a daily basis. Activities, which took most of our time, covering our problems by leaving no time or energy to consider them.

Skeletons in the closet

In the state of self-isolation though, it is us, who come into focus, whether we would like it or not. We might have skeletons in the closet: painful memories, feelings and discontent appear from one day to the other, starting to poison our thoughts and lives. We thought we had been through with them a long time ago, but they seem to return again and again to linger with us…

Time for self-reflection

Due to the vacuum we find ourselves in now there is no way to escape from our doubts, fears and troubles. The time has come to stand face to face with ourselves and pose questions about the vulnerable topics we have avoided so far to find the path to the possible answers…

What is the first step?

To start with, here are some self-reflective questions to ask yourself:

• What worries me most about the future?
• What matters most in my life?
• What am I doing about the things that matter most in my life?
• Am I achieving the goals that I’ve set for myself?
• What have I given up on?
• Am I putting enough effort into my relationships?
• When did I last push the boundaries of my comfort zone?
• Have I done anything lately that’s worth remembering?
• If this were the last day of my life, would I have the same plans for today?
• What’s the one thing I’d like others to remember about me at the end of my life?

Please, give yourself time and be honest to be able to meet your real self and find the mental power you need for changing your life. Regard the present difficulties as an opportunity for a change. Opportunity for the life you have always wanted to live.