William Arthur: Accepting change as lockdown eases

From this lockdown period, we have all experienced a significantly slower pace of life.

Whether we've been watching TV or having a productive day on the computer at our home desks, we can be sure that returning to our more gruelling timetables, commutes and work schedules will serve as a shock compared with what we are now comfortable with.

It's not our fault. Many of us may feel guilty for this slow pace, as it does not offer us the feeling of productivity that we so desperately crave.

Yet we may've felt a surge of relief when granted the time away from work needed to recover.

Without a doubt, this period of isolation and uncertainty has brought with it many bouts of anxiety, fear and self-doubt that can usually be fought with a supportive social network and a firm grounding in reality.

I have personally experienced an unsettling discontent at home without the affirmation of education or a part-time job to keep me busy; it is easy to fall prey to feeling as though we are alone in all our thoughts and fears, when it is generally a part of the human condition, that everyone will experience from time to time.

This fear that comes with a reintroduction to the norm may stem from a feeling of alienation we feel from the outside world.

One way to adapt is accepting change.

We may be so used to controlling the outcomes of our life, in order to establish desirable change.

But we may not have as much control as we think; Lockdown is a confirmation of that fact.

Moving back into our old shoes may require 'breaking in the soles of our old boots', so to speak.

We can learn, from this experience to somewhat relinquish the control we want to exert over our lives, to flow with change even when it is not favourable.

One thing that has been made clear from the pandemic: life will still go on whether we like it or not, so adaptability may serve us in moving forward in alignment with life – not against it.