Changing Your “Picture” Doesn’t Mean Lowering Your Expectations

I hear from so many of you- adults and kids- about the disappointment you are experiencing over life events that you are missing out on due to COVID-19.

These feelings are all perfectly normal. It’s okay to be mad, disappointed, and anxious.  You may even feel sorry for yourself. It is important to acknowledge these feelings, but it is also important to adjust your thinking on how these events will take place. This does not mean lowering your expectations, but it does mean you may need to think creatively.

Most of us think about these life events way ahead of time. We usually create some sort of movie in our head about the “perfect” way in which this event will play out and we are disappointed when it doesn’t work out that way. How many times have you pictured winning a big game, spending time with someone you thought was “cute”, reconnecting with an old friend, planning a party, making a fantastic presentation, or acing a big test? And how many times did things work out exactly as you had planned? Probably not very many. In all these cases, you had to adjust the video or picture you created in your head and be okay with the new version. You survived, you probably learned something, and you may have enjoyed the event even more than you thought.

This time is not different. Your life’s events are not cancelled; they are just waiting to be celebrated. They may be celebrated differently at a different time than you imagined but they will still happen. Now is the perfect opportunity for you to rewind your video, make some mental edits, and imagine what great things are in store!