“Hallelujah, he has risen.”
It’s certainly strange to hear those joyful words proclaimed on a
livestreamed Mass viewed from a smartphone in my living room. But it is Easter,
and it is a time of celebration, even when the pandemic limits our ability to
celebrate in typical ways. So, what are we doing to keep hope alive during
these times?
Focus on the positive
Our expectations impact our mood. If I expect things won’t go
well, then I tend to see things not going well. This isn’t to say a bad
attitude can prevent good things from happening, but it does mean we pay more
attention to things we expect to see. So, if we’re pessimistically looking at the
glass half empty, it’s unlikely we’re going to enjoy the taste of the drink. We
live in a fallen world and may naturally gravitate to focusing on what’s not
going well. If 100 things happen to us in a week, and 99 of them are good, our
human nature may cause us to focus on the one negative thing. Instead of
falling into this trap, let’s catch ourselves anytime we take an overly
negative view and try to shift frame.
Actively look for what’s going well
Even in a time of social distancing and pandemic, uplifting
things are happening all around us. While we may naturally see negative events
more easily, make a commitment to actively look for the good, beautiful or
encouraging in our lives. Counting small blessings may sound trivial, but those
little things remind us of hope. Whether it’s enjoying the beauty of spring,
hearing a song you love, or receiving a message from a friend you haven’t
spoken with in several years, small blessings remind us there is more than the
COVID-19 pandemic in our lives. Challenge yourself to identify one good thing
in your life each day.
Encourage others
It’s easy to get discouraged as the pandemic drags on. We are
inundated with images and concerns of rising unemployment, illness and death.
But we can fight discouragement by encouraging others, whether face to face or
virtually. We can be kind and gentle to one another: Take deliberate steps to
brighten someone’s day by a caring act, or tell someone something we admire
about them. We’ll get through this crisis, and we’ll do it together. Where can
we find encouragement if not from each other?
Say thank you
When we begin to look outside ourselves, we can focus on others,
and appreciate all they do for us every day. Hope and happiness are accompanied
by a strong sense of gratitude for the gifts God gives us and an appreciation
of the people in our lives. We convey that gratitude by thanking others when
they help or are kind, or just for being who they are. Being thankful enables
us to appreciate the people and blessings in our lives more deeply. We are an
Easter people, and even in unprecedented times of hardship and challenge, we
want to live out our faith in hope and joy.
Horne is director of clinical services for diocesan
Catholic Charities.
Find out more
To make a teletherapy appointment with a Catholic
Charities counselor, call 703/425-0109 or 540/371-1124.