The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on every person – nationwide. However, this toll is different for everyone. In some ways it could be negative, or in some cases it could even be positive. Adapting to new changes is challenging, as sometimes they are not expected, and some of them can be life changing. It is important to recognize these changes and how they are affecting people so that society can grow and learn together to become better. In these conditions, adapting to new changes is different for everyone provided there are positives and negatives that influence the effect on people.
It is always easy to say that the negatives outweigh the positives. With statistics like the COVID-19 pandemic that killed more than 180,000 Americans as of March of this year, it is hard to say that anything has gone well since that one weekday in March where we all got “2 weeks” off of school (Pew Research Center). With new changes comes adjusting. For a lot of people, the adjustment was drastic. Routines were destroyed, human contact completely diminished, and social lives became non-existent. In an article from the Purdue University Counseling & Psychological Services, Theresa Nutten describes helpful ways, and comforting remarks about adjusting to the pandemic.
This article was written early in the pandemic, but adjusting is still taking place, even as things are slowly going back to normal. Nutten explains the timing of the situation as, “This situation is both uncertain and temporary… consider this a time to reflect on who you want to be during this time, focus on what is within your control” identifying that adjusting is an individual concept, people cannot rely on others’ ways to determine who they will be during this time. It is important for people to identify changes in their life, and how they can still live up to their full potential. With that, living up to their full potential while adjusting does not come fast/ easy, Nutten states, “Adjustment is a process that looks differently for most people, this process is not linear or well-defined” confirming, adjusting is intimate and personal, specific to each person. It takes time, thought, and perseverance through hard times.
Finding the good in situations is a very beneficial component in adjusting to new changes. The Pew Research Center conducted personal interviews with Americans about the silver linings of the pandemic. Unity was a large theme in the interviews as portrayed in this quote, “People in my community seem to be really interested in helping each other out. Sharing food, going shopping for older people, organizations, hospitals, nursing homes, and the homeless. It seems to be bringing all different kinds of people together to help each other out” concluding that reaching out to others can help, even though adjusting in an individual act (Pew Research Center). Hearing other’s perspectives gives people insight on the value of their problems, which are sometimes not as bad as the people that they interact with. This can help people with being thankful for what they have and changing their mindset.
Going along with unity, and being thankful is another interview quote that emphasizes the importance of loved ones, “Teleworking has been a welcome change. I enjoy the extra two hours a day I would have spent commuting. I also enjoy spending more time with my wife. I know I’m fortunate, and I’m grateful” reiterating the realization of being fortunate and thankful for all that a person has (Pew Research Center). Adjusting is a hard concept, but with a positive mindset and finding the good in situations, the stress can be lifted.
Works Cited
“In Their Own Words, Americans Describe the Struggles and Silver Linings of the COVID-19
Pandemic” Pew Research Center, 5 March 2021. https://www.pewresearch.org/2021/03/05/in-their-own-words-americans-describe-the-struggles-and-silver-linings-of-the-covid-19-pandemic/. Accessed 15 October, 2021.
Nutten, Theresa. “Adjusting to the New Normal.” Purdue University Counseling &
Psychological Services,” https://www.purdue.edu/
caps/covid-19/adjusting-to-new-normal.html. Accessed 28 October 2021.
Dear Annabelle, I am delighted by your post Finding the Good/Adjusting since it focuses on what a lot of people, including myself, went through during the pandemic. It focuses on how the pandemic especially, affected many for the better or for the worse. By doing so, many are illustrated on the concept and notice that there is a solution to their problem.
One sentence you wrote that stood out to me was “Adjusting is a hard concept, but with a positive mindset and finding the good in situations, the stress can be lifted” because it focuses on what is important in life. In order to move on and grow, one needs to focus on the good things in life and if there seems to be none, we should create it.
Thank you for your writing. I look forward to seeing what you write next since you are open about the experience many went through; the truth behind the pandemic and the impact it had on human life.
-Andrea