How Can I Survive and Thrive during a Global Pandemic?

By now, wherever we are in the world, we are starting to adapt and accept the new “normals” that COVID-19 has introduced to our lives.

Imagine this one scenario: Step out of your house and walk to the nearest, used-to-be busy road. Be amazed at the quiet and space! Walk back to your house, check your social media, and marvel at the stark contrast. Visual, verbal, and viral traffic of opinions, news updates, directives, and memes about the pandemic will stream profusely right before your very eyes!

For us in the Philippines and specifically in Metro Manila, which is now in lockdown, we are in the heat of coping with all that COVID-19 is doing to our society . News of hoarding, pictures of long lines of people stocking up for a month’s worth of goods, and other panic-driven preparations fill our social media newsfeeds. Multitudes of comments and questions– laced with uncertainty, anxiety, and fear– fill our people’s heads and hearts. To address these concerns, many social media citizens have done and shared their research by getting insight from various sources, and especially from countries that are starting to recover from the outbreak. All factual and reliable information being shared are welcomed and deemed crucial for our country to learn from both the successful moves and shortcomings of those recovering nations.

On a personal level, what can we do to, not only survive, but thrive during the days or even months of living with this outbreak? Since all of us will be temporarily stripped down to the basics of limited living, such as curfews, suspensions, work and travel restrictions, what is there left to do?

Here is a simple ABC guideline to make it through COVID-19 Pandemic:

Adopt a We-Can-Make-It Attitude and Action Plan.

Every household can sit down and talk about what can be done during the lockdown. List down to-do’s, hobbies, and activities that you can pursue individually and together. Be proactive, productive, and helpful within the confines of the house.

Getting through this outbreak is not only per household but a community effort. Support your leaders, follow the guidelines, and use whatever resource you have, especially your “voice” in social media, to promote unity and cooperation as a nation. Filipinos are known for their “bayanihan” (community volunteerism) spirit. Let’s activate this in tackling the great challenge ahead.

Be a Blessing.

It’s so easy to think of and prioritize one’s own survival during a lockdown. It’s more challenging to consider what we can do to the least of our countrymen, as well as those in the hospital frontlines battling all forms of diseases, not just this current virus. Simple acts such as avoiding hoarding of food and medical supplies, being considerate of others’ needs, and generous giving make the countdown to the end of the lockdown period bearable for everyone around us. Right now, will you take time to encourage, pray for, and give sacrificially to your fellowmen, especially those greatly affected by COVID-19? In the comment section, please feel free to share your ideas on how we can be a blessing despite the lockdown.

Connect meaningfully to your family and your online community.

During the lockdown, we’ll all be reintroduced to a temporary and simplified lifestyle, stripped of the hubris city life brings. We will rediscover what our true priorities are, and be given extended time to reflect and assess our life’s direction. Let’s take advantage of the many opportunities to spend quality time with our family. Our hope is to see families meaningfully connect and cooperate in making the home atmosphere conducive for long days of being together. As for our community/friends, keeping connected to them will be a breeze via internet. So let’s not forget to regularly check on each other by asking about our mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual health. Let’s encourage, share best practices, and pray for one another to stay healthy.

The ABC Guideline above is just one of the many tips already floating around online that can be done during the pandemic. Looking back to the start of year 2020, our country and the rest of the world have been bombarded by issues and world-shaking events. Realistically speaking, COVID-19 won’t be the last crisis that will disrupt our lives.

With every tick of the clock, we will be brought closer to life’s end. Where can we find hope, resilience, courage, and peace to get through each day of our lives until time’s up? There’s good news for you who are seeking answers to this question. That good news is found in the person of Jesus Christ. Our hope, peace, grit, and courage come from having a personal relationship with Him. He has prepared us for such a time as this, and He promised a life assured by his power and presence while in the world, and especially beyond our earthly lives. Jesus said, “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

We invite you to take time to consider Jesus Christ’s life and words. Below are links you can explore as you weigh the offer that He has for you.

Who is Jesus?

https://www.everystudent.com/wires/whowas.html?icid=gtshare

Why did Jesus die?

https://www.everystudent.com/wires/whydid.html?icid=gtshare

Beyond blind faith…

https://www.everystudent.com/features/faith.html?icid=gtshare

If you are ready to believe in who He says He is, and submit to Him as Lord of your life, you can say this simple prayer, by faith:

“Lord Jesus, I need You. Thank You for dying on the cross to save me from my sins. Thank You for rising again from the grave to defeat death forever. Thank You for Your offer of eternal life. I submit to Your Lordship by repenting from my sins and following You.”

We invite you to connect with us! We’d love to hear from you and share more resources as you start your journey of faith in Jesus Christ.

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