“Being positive is the most negative thing” is something you may have heard on social media. Though it is a play of words on the current COVID situation, but in the long term we need to believe in the opposite.

It is a well-known fact, and established by the scientific community as well, that a healthy body follows a healthy mind...it means that if you have a healthy mind then your body too will stay healthy. That is the power of mind. 

Given the invasion of COVID, we are forever worrying about it affecting us. And this greatly affects the positivity in our homes and lives. Therefore it is essential to keep a track of our thoughts, and try and instill positivity in our thoughts and thereby in our physical environment. Here are  a few tips:

1. Do not discuss COVID too much: While it is the all-consuming topic for the year, talking too much about it only makes us anxious and worried. It is best to not discuss about it with your family, friends, whatsapp groups, social media handles etc. Knowing about the figures every few hours is not going to empower you in any way, unless and until you are a frontline worker or a healthcare worker, and infact will instill stress, as sense of pending doom, and nervousness in you which is going to show in your behaviour and eventually in your environment.
2. Focus on other aspects of life: Accept the situation at hand instead of trying to fight it from your armchair. Unless and until you are in the firing line of COVID, it is best to understand the basics about it, keep safe, follow all the protocols, and then move on. Focus on other jobs that enrich your life--your kids, house, professional commitments, hobbies, reading, gardening etc. 
3. Don’t make COVID the centre of your life: Though it is the most pressing issue currently, it is a choice you have to make to live with COVID or to make COVID the centre point of your life. Take precautions, follow the safety protocols, but don’t live in so much fear that you forget to have fun with your family, treat yourself once in a while to some good food, relax and enjoy your days too.
4. Focus on positivity-instilling activities: Such as exercising, meditation, singing and dancing. Even if you can’t step out, do relaxing yoga at home, meditate, do chanting, take deep breaths, sing and dance with abandon--anything that will be cathartic or therapeutic for you.
5. Rituals may help you too: Religious or spiritual rituals such as lighting a lamp, chanting, singing hymns and religious songs, instill faith in you and make you believe in a larger force. This will make it easier for you to accept the current situation.
6. Positive reinforcements: Your mind has the power to flip the situation for you; it is based on faith. So, rather than believing in the fact that COVID will definitely strike you, think positive that you will be saved from COVID since you believe so. But that doesn’t mean that you become careless about following safety protocols.
7. Build empathy and sympathy: These are two very vital traits that will help you sail through the difficult days. Do not judge but try and empathise with other’s situation--whether someone has hired a part-time maid or not, do not judge that person and let her live in peace; similarly if someone does contract COVID, try to help the person rather than stigmatizing or ostracising her/him.
8. Limit social media consumption: With so much of unverified news, and tales of misery floating around, it is best to limit checking your social media handles too much.