Freedom, Fear and the New Normal

The “new normal” begins with you. It has been too long that we have been held in a place of fear, and I for one am not putting up with it any longer. I am highly aware that this empowered language has been discouraged for the last two years, but I am ready to stand in my power again – Aren’t you?

This article is not about the health crisis that we have been going through, but it is about your freedom of speech, thought and action. It’s time to stop wishing for freedom, and to take it back instead. The new normal MUST begin within you. Whatever your choices have been through this ordeal, own them, be at peace with them, and now … let’s move on to living our lives together.

The question becomes: “What is normal to you?”.

Some will say their newfound simplicity in life feels like something they didn’t even know they had been looking for. Some people say they miss hugging. Here are some phrases I have heard on a highly regular basis:

“I miss hugging!”

“I’m happier now because my life is simple”

“I just want to see __________”

“I miss going for coffee”

“I miss my yoga/barre/fitness class”

“I miss having my annual _______ party/gathering”

If you are a problem solver like me, you’re coming up with solutions to each one of these comments. The truth is that we have freedom to do everything that is listed in these, but there is a fear that has insidiously crept into our psyches. We’ve been told that it’s not okay to touch each other, or to socialize, or take care of ourselves in a fitness/yoga community. The messaging was delivered to us in order to help us understand the severity of the health crisis, and now as the dust settles and we have all made our choices … we still live in fear.

Fear is the antithesis to your freedom.

This post is not about being defiant or reckless, and it’s not about breaking rules or being a menace. This post is about our mental state as a society, and how quickly our trust has eroded throughout the crisis. I’m simply asking questions about where you are compromising your happiness, even though you have the freedom to do almost anything you like.

Let’s own our choices, and move forward with open hearts and open minds.