A dear friend recently asked me, despite being in quarantine and all of the craziness swirling in the world right now,
 

What’s some good that’s come out of 2020?
 

In hearing this, I had to take some time for reflection to see how my values and priorities have shifted so far this year, because of how drastically different it’s been. And let’s be honest, in addition to things being different, 2020 has also been very difficult for many. And in times of crisis, it can be hard to stay positive all of the time and see a glimmer of hope when there is so much uncertainty.

But looking back on the year and the circumstances we have found ourselves in, I can honestly say that I’ve learned a lot about myself, my relationships, and the things that were once a priority to me. This shift in perspective was really important for me to consider, which is why I wanted to share a few of my silver linings from 2020 so far, to see if you could find some, too! These moments don’t have to be monumental either, they can be small wins or little things to be grateful for.
 

So, what are some things that you have had more time to do or have realized is more important in your life in the first 6 months of this year?
 

I wrote down some things that I’ve had more time to focus on, which have become some of the greatest lessons and wakeup calls for me this year:
 

More time to reflect and meditate

At first, being in quarantine, it was a bit scary to think that our safety and well-being were dependent on staying inside. And while it was alarming at first, it did allow me more time to think, reflect, and meditate. Meditation has always played a big role in my life, but this time around, it felt different. While being required to stay inside due to the pandemic, it forces you to be present and intentional in your daily practices, especially when your health is on the line. I saw that spending more time in my home allowed for me to get grounded in my connectedness with myself. Having more time to reflect and meditate has had wonderful impacts on my overall well-being and mindset, in that I feel that much more connected to my higher self than ever before.
 

Getting creative with my workouts

Getting adequate exercise while being, what I now call, “delightfully housebound” was tricky at first, especially with limited access to workout facilities. But there are much worse things happening in the world than not being able to exercise in a gym, so I just had to pivot. Instead of thinking of the situation as something being taken away from me, it just took a little getting used to and a little creativity to find my groove. Check out the rebounder trampoline that I use inside my house! I may not be able to work out at a gym right now, but I sure am having a blast jumping up and down for a workout - it makes me feel like a kid again, and that’s a massive win in my book!

More time cooking for myself

I’m normally traveling and on the go, so slowing down to cook a meal for myself was rare. But in the past several months, I’ve found myself becoming much more mindful and conscious of what I’m putting in my body. And now more than ever, staying healthy is of utmost importance, and what better way to keep busy and stay healthy than cooking your meals? With more time on our hands at home, I found myself being more spontaneous in exploring new healthy recipes. Cooking more for myself in these past months has allowed me to enjoy and appreciate the act of cooking, knowing that I’m also taking great care in nourishing my body.
 

Able to tackle the things I was putting off for later

There’s no denying that this new time in our lives has forced many of us to pivot in ways completely unimaginable to life as we knew it. People are dealing with changes in their everyday relationships, careers, and normal ways of life. For me, it’s opened up my eyes and heart to understand how to use these circumstances as an opportunity for growth and change. I realized there was no more room for procrastination or excuses in getting things done. It was my opportunity to step up, show up, and take action on my long list of to-dos. So no matter your circumstances, you can use this time as an opportunity to get clear on your goals and dreams and start putting things into action to get there.

Reading (and listening) more

Diving into new books is an incredible way to keep the mind stimulated with positivity and to educate ourselves on important topics. I’ve definitely found myself reading and listening to audiobooks now, more than ever. While I used to read a really good book every so often, consuming literature has now become a part of my daily routine, and I absolutely love it! I’ve been learning so much through books in the past several months, which has helped to shape and shift my outlook on how I show up in the world, how I can better support causes I care about, and how to best listen and be of service to others. Anytime I get the opportunity to learn and absorb knowledge is a huge win, and this time spent at home has allowed me to do way more of that.
 

Talking to old friends and making more impactful relationships

Not being able to see friends and loved ones as much or in the way that we used to has been hard. My relationships have always been a huge part of my life, so getting used to experiencing my relationships from a distance also took some getting used to. But this new way of social distancing has helped me to feel even more grateful for those closest to me. I’ve been more intentional in reaching out to friends and family and checking in to see how my loved ones are doing. It may be easy to feel frustrated or upset that you can’t see friends or family, but even just shifting the focus to feeling grateful for things like FaceTime and Zoom and all the different ways to stay connected has helped me to appreciate them that much more.

2020 has created a huge shift in perspective for all of us. But when we allow ourselves to change the narrative and shift our focus to finding the positive message or meaning in something, we open ourselves up to receive more good in our lives. And I know this has been a challenging year, and I want to say thanks for being such a special part of the community with these 3 gifts from me to you. Use this time to tap into the power of your subconscious mind to attract your greatest dreams and desires - the time is now!