I caught up with my cousin who practices therapy in CA yesterday and I asked her how she, and her patients, were doing. She said she had observed a consistent theme throughout the week which her patients minimized their feelings by comparing their circumstances to others. It inspired her to write this:
“I heard – through the tears – so many times this week “What I am going through isn’t as bad as other people.” But here is the thing: This is a global crisis. If every person discounted their feelings – their experience – there would be no room for the pain. No room for the grief. Anywhere. But if we can begin to make room for the tears – starting with ourselves – the compassion in the world will automatically expand. The world will feel our solidarity with it.”
We can be grateful about having a job, having a home, having money to buy food… to be optimistic about the future. But that doesn’t mean we can’t also experience negative feelings about the coronavirus situation from time to time. Remember to give yourself, and others, the room to feel, weather the storm, and be better because of it.
