THE DISCOMFORT ZONE: A 'new normal'

More than a year since the phrases 'quarantine', 'isolation' and 'social distancing' entered our daily vocabulary with lockdowns worldwide.

Months of social disconnection, masks, followed by faceshields added to our outdoor outfits, then zoom replacing workplace interactions and meetings.

An unexpected, unpredictable, yet incredible year of homeschooling 5 students which is a full-time job in itself; returning to quadratic equations and scratching dormant braincells for recollection of chemistry formulas! (It seems another year of home-based study is forecast in the Philippines!.... more adjustments and memory stretching ahead!)

Feeling inadequate, unqualified, and out of place!

Multiple changes, unforseen shifts, and adjustments. A year and a half of learning; often relearning, realigning, and rediscovering.

Changes to jobs, family roles, finances, when we do our laundry, how we pay bills, who buys groceries, hairstyles (or lack of), dentists, church, shopping, birthdays, staff, workloads, bedtime, friendships......

the list goes on....!

Plenty of tears, frustrations, questions, confusion and loss.

Kids who lost classmates, freedom to play, ice-cream dates, expectations for basketball leagues, hopes for a graduation ceremony, hugs from grandparents (their lists differ to mine; but each change and grief adjustment matters!)

Now here we are 18 months on having made so many alterations. Still encountering the same outside problems, and recycling similar solutions with unchanged exterior outcomes! YET the interior has been pushed upward; the test of resilience shoved into the spotlight, forced to expand and mature.

Adaptability skills can be learned and honed with practice, experience, and exposure.

I would probably NOT choose to live in this space of unease and continuous comfort removals but the opportunity for refining within flips over my self preservation perspective.

Character and maturity develop most in this discomfort zone!

Remaining in charted waters, navigating close to the shoreline ensures security but misses potential for engaging and discovering more.

Faith and fear may collide at the horizon line! How far will we venture into the unknown without measuring the distance or counting the cost of the course?

An honest evaluation is required! It determines the journey and destination; whether we remain in safeguarded coastlines or passage into expanding territory?

"For God intended that your faith not be established on man's wisdom, but by trusting in His almighty power." 1 Corinthians 2:5

(TPT)