Staying Motivated During The Great Lock Down

By Gilbert Quinones


How we define ourselves at this point will determine our outcome.

It’s not a matter of “if” but instead “when” this virus is under control, we will reflect back at this moment in history.

It’s important to pull through now more than ever because when this is all over you will be amazingly more powerful and confident.

This is a perfect opportunity to be better and improve yourself by learning new skills, new talents, realizing and honing in on talents you didn’t know you had, and prepare yourself for a better future.

Although many are not as fortunate during these times, if you have the ability to read this article, are not sick, or have the strength to fight this virus, then reading this article can help to improve your mindset about what is happening so that you can better understand the positive future that awaits you.


CONTENTS:

– Dealing with Quarantine

– Transformation

– First Responders and Service Workers

– Remember   

– Overcoming 

– The Outcome


Dealing with Quarantine –   “Don’t forget to breathe slowly and exercise.”

Your current situation in life or whatever is going on around you does not mean it’s a reflection of what your life will be in the future. Your current situation is only temporary and YOU have the ability to shape and determine your future.

Rough times come to pass.

You WILL get through this. Not everyone will have the outcome they hoped for, however, the majority of us will get through this and when we do, we are going to be better than ever. 

A movie is most likely already being thought of and scripts in the making about these times we are experiencing. It is how you react during these times that determine your future that will be the story people will tell to others for many years to come.

You are greater than your circumstances and stronger than you could ever imagine. 

It’s okay to be scared. We are human and it’s normal to feel fear. It is what you do with that fear that sets us apart from one another.  Will you allow fear to swallow you whole or will you use that fear to propel you into bigger and greater things?

Doing difficult things is good for us.

You will be more confident.

Exercise is the best medicine you can give your body, to feel incredible, boost your immune system, and keep your mind sharp and strong.

Focus on what you can control.

You will get through this.


Transformation –   “We are going into a cocoon.”

A cocoon is a natural state some species go into to evolve into something else, something better and more beautiful.

Social distancing does not mean we need to emotionally distance ourselves from others.

Going through adversity can be healthy for us.

During this process of hardship, you are discovering things that you don’t know about yourself. This will help you come to realize the greatness inside of you.

Your confidence is growing.

Stages of handling a loss or change can be a shock to our nervous system.

It is imperative that you do not have a victim mentality because remember, you are greater than your circumstances.

If you do what’s hard first, your life will be easy later. This is something hard that we must go through. There is an old saying quoted by the famous Mark Twain “If the first thing you do in the morning is eat a live frog, you can go through the rest of your day knowing the worst is behind you.” 

The more stressful situations you experience, the stronger you will become.

Exercising your mind and your body’s ability to manage intense situations changes you. 

Similar to how a great athlete must train hard and endure great stress to push their body, we must train our minds to manage stressful situations.

By going through this rough period we reduce the stress for the rest of our lives.

With every pain we experience in life, there is usually great pleasure in the end. Somehow, as bad as it sounds, I feel we needed to feel this pain so that…

When this storm runs out of rain, those still standing will be stronger.

This is a time that many of us will reassess our values.

Growth generally does not happen during times when things are going great and there is no pressure. It is most often during times of resistance when growth occurs. I once heard the saying that we do not move or make a change unless you experience some pain. With change there comes development. Resistance means there is strength in the making. If you are having difficult times, make sure and look in the mirror because when you look into your eyes, you can see the strength that is developing inside you during these trying times.

It’s there. Let it grow.


First Responders and Service Workers –   “We are thankful for you!”

I remember reading the following headline and I could feel this service worker’s pain.

“You wouldn’t ask police to go into a gun battle without a gun, but we’re being asked to put our lives on the line each day without the equipment that we need to do it.”

The fighting that I see in the world at times is painful to watch.

I also see the good in many that have come together to help one another.

Ronald Regan once said in his speech at the United Nations, “In our obsession with antagonisms of the moment, we often forget how much unites all the members of humanity.”

We often forget that we all have commonalities that make it worth it for us to conjoin our efforts.

To the first responders and service workers, I see hero’s everywhere on the front lines.

Serving people and caring for others.

Unfortunately, success in life usually does not come without cost. You simply just have to be willing to pay it. We are all paying a price right now for a world of future prosperity.

The sacrifices our loved ones are taking should not be wasted. And to the service industry, medical workers, doctors, nurses, and every person that works in an essential business, THANK YOU for sacrificing your life for many, every, single, day.

People remember people with courage. And because of this, people will always remember you.


“Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?”
– Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr


Remember –   “It’s going to be okay.”

There’s always calm waters after a rapids. We may have to go down a waterfall but even then there will eventually be calm waters. 

We will come out of this stronger than ever before.

It’s almost as if it’s an incubation period to ensure the strength of humankind.

Use these quiet times for self-reflection and an internal strength builder. Enjoy getting to know yourself and you may find that observing others from afar makes them more interesting.

Use the pandemic downtime to motivate you to want to pursue your dreams because no storm will last forever.

Making right choices eventually gets right results.

“I know it seems hard sometimes but remember one thing. Through every dark night, there’s a bright day after that. So no matter how hard it get, stick your chest out, keep ya head up…. and handle it.”

― Tupac Shakur


Overcoming –   “We will prevail stronger.”

Who cares where it came from, let’s work together. We should not worry about who’s to blame. We can focus on preventative measures later but for now, let’s worry about how to solve the problems. 

All of our focus and energy needs to be on helping others rather than politics.

We will experience the most effective positive outcomes as a result of thinking in unity and synchronicity.

Regardless of any political disputes of transparency, we need to strive for monumental achievements to create solutions together.

If we combine our thinking to overcome obstacles we will be more effective.

It is my wish that we take advantage of our democracy to come up with more innovative methods to solve problems. 

We need to realize we are on the same team.

If we can remember we are on the same team, then we can strive to solve our same problems.


The Outcome  –   “We will become more grateful.”

Rational Thinking

The human mind completes tasks that it believes is possible. It’s important for you to have the mindset to know everything will be okay because this will make you stronger.

It starts with your belief system in your abilities.

Believe in yourself. Believe in others.

Like a damaged muscle that recovers, we will grow stronger together. Like a wound that heals into a scar. Humanity will be stronger than ever after this time passes.

It was almost as if this needed to happen for us to become more grateful for one another and become more loving.

As the dust settles.

We will restart the economic engine.

We will hit the reset button.

It is my hope and dream that the world as a whole will come together for the greater good and disregard our petty differences.

To be able to embrace and greet others without worry is something we will appreciate more.

People are going to appreciate our schools and value our teachers more. Going to the grocery store without gloves and mask will no longer be taken for granted.

Remember today’s world is only a temporary outlook of tomorrow’s prosperity.

Till we are together again.

Don’t worry about a thing, because every little thing is going to be alright.