THE GROWING MIND BY DR. KAREN SUMNER a freelance writer and editor based in King City
LIFE LESSONS UNDER LOCKDOWN What can we learn and teach our children in the midst of a pandemic?
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UR WORLD CHANGED at lightning speed earlier this year. Life felt normal in January, a bit uncertain in February, and almost unrecognizable by March. Our kids headed out for the break and then never went back to school. Many of us quickly set up remote offices or stopped working altogether. Zoom and Google Meets became fixtures of our days. Picking up groceries transitioned into an intricate dance of planning, distancing and sanitizing. We cut ourselves off from one another, hunkering down in our homes to stay safe. We worried about – and sorely missed – our extended families, friends and communities. It’s disorienting to be suddenly flung into a new reality. At the same time, how we view and respond to the challenges we face are within our power. What if we can all come out stronger? More connected to each other? Kinder and more compassionate? It all starts with our choices and beliefs.
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SPRING 2020 THE LINK
If we adopt what’s called an external locus of control, we measure the value and meaning of our lives mainly by external factors – the things that happen to us and around us. This orientation can create feelings of helplessness and doubt about our ability to overcome challenges. Alternatively, with an internal locus of control, we find meaning in our own choices and actions, no matter what the world delivers. We believe we can shape our experience. We think, “Whatever comes my way, how I respond is up to me.” Viewing challenges as opportunities for growth is a signature feature of having an internal locus of control. Our focus is on how we respond, where we exercise influence, and what personal resources we draw on. This is what parents wish for their children – that in the face of adversity, they tap into their own power to shape their experience. That they believe in their ability to make a difference. That they create their own meaning, rather than have it thrust upon them. The coronavirus outbreak has challenged all of us to adapt, learn (continued on page 12)