1. We must focus on the aspects that we can change and have control over in our lives.

The COVID-19 brought significant changes in human behavior and lifestyle. Though the
lockdowns and community quarantines implemented by the government helped in preventing the
spread of the virus, these consequently caused people to lose their jobs and their means of living.
The pandemic brought awareness to the deeply rooted inequality in our socio-economic and
healthcare system as well as the incompetence of some government officials. With the increasing
cases of Covid-19, the people are overwhelmed with uncertainties in their career, finance, health,
and social relationship. The lack of security and sense of control over the situation led to a
prolonged state of fear, anxiety, and depression. In the long run, the negative emotions associated
with these uncontrollable circumstances can potentially deteriorate our mental and physical well-
being. One way to cope up with these stressful situations is by directing our focus on the things
within our control rather than on the crisis of the pandemic. By recognizing and accepting that
there are things beyond our control, we can openly talk about our worries, control our attitude,
and manage our emotional response. Conscious recognition of our control over how we handle
our emotions helps to process difficult emotions without hurting others and manage stress
through exercises, meditation, and social support systems. Dealing with the effects of the
pandemic in a manageable and healthy way is built upon our foundation of being able to identify
and understand the things we can control and cannot control.

We can find hope and meaning in simple things.

With social gatherings and physical interactions minimized during quarantine, the pandemic
caused instability in the real life by disrupting normalcy. As social beings, we rely on social
interaction to provide an ambiance of belongingness, satisfaction, and security in our lives. Since
physical proximity became an invalid factor for social interaction, social isolation and loneliness
are inevitable. The collective psychophysical exhaustion and anxiety experienced by the
population affect our ability to function effectively in our work, relationships, and even their
daily routines. With intense apprehension and restlessness, people gradually lose motivation and
hope that everything will return to normal. However, with individuals starting to engage in
virtual interaction and use digital platforms to continue performing their respective roles and
duties, a new collective consciousness is born to define our current society. When we recognize
our current reality as our new normal, we gain a new sense of meaning in our lives to work
through the grief and hopelessness. We can appreciate the aspects in our daily lives such as the
beautiful environment around us, our hobbies and interests, and our social support system. When
we acknowledge the simple things in our daily lives, it gives us a sense of direction and guards
our hearts and minds against uncertainties.
We can help others through simple acts of kindness.
The social conditions created and exposed during the pandemic showed the good and evil side of
humanity. The desire to help others rivals the desire to take advantage of oneself. People of
Asian descent, overseas workers, and medical personnel were unjustly subjected to prejudice and
discrimination. Since anyone can pose a threat, hostility and prejudice of the dormant group are
not only subjected to the minority but also towards the fellow members of their social group. As
a bystander response, the inaction and apparent indifference among people continue to increase.
Being a potential source of the virus became the basis in becoming a target of micro-aggression.
However, people have a choice on whether to continue to be passive or to be active in helping
anyone regardless of their background and social class without any personal biases and
prejudices. With the accessibility of social media, we can take proactive efforts such as
community pantries and educational discussions to address the ongoing social stigma against
front liners and help the most vulnerable sector within the community. We can engage in simple
acts of kindness such as listening to our peers, validating the feelings and efforts of our family,
and reaching out to others.