By Jimi Teague

Right now, most of America is under quarantine due to the coronavirus. Schools are closed, and many parents have suddenly found themselves homeschooling their children—without co-ops, support systems, or even the option to leave the house. That’s a tall order, even for the most well-functioning families. Businesses are shutting down. People are worried about losing jobs, watching their incomes shrink, and catching a virus that feels like a looming threat. And, of all things, there’s a nationwide toilet paper shortage.

It’s safe to say—we’re living in a time of high stress.

But is it all bad? Are we doomed? How do we hold on to a positive mindset when fear and uncertainty feel like they’re pressing in on every side?

This moment is actually a powerful opportunity to learn how to find peace in the midst of chaos. And one of the most helpful ways to do that is by practicing the Law of Relativity.

The Law of Relativity teaches us this:

A situation is not fundamentally good or bad—until you compare it to something else.

Let’s take a look at what’s going on around us. As I scroll through my Facebook feed, I see a lot of honest posts from parents who feel like being locked in the house for two weeks with their kids is the worst. They’re missing out on birthday parties. Sporting events are canceled. They’re bored, stir-crazy, and trying not to eat all the snacks they stocked up on “just in case.”

Yes, there’s fear—of getting sick, of financial hardship—but also a lot of people are still crowding stores, panic shopping, even after being asked to stay home. Walmart parking lots are still full. There are lines for miles to get into Costco. To many, this entire situation feels like the end of the world. And without question, life in our country is shifting in real time.

But let’s return to the Law of Relativity.

“A situation is not fundamentally good or bad—until you compare it to something else.”

So let’s compare.

Yes, right now things are hard. But every single day in America, children go to bed hungry. Families live without shelter. Kids are suffering abuse. In hospitals across the country, children connected to IVs and oxygen monitors look up at their parents with tired, pleading eyes, praying cancer won’t win. And those parents? They’re not complaining about missing events or being home with their children.

They’ve already lost their normal. They’ve already made sacrifices most of us can’t imagine—missing out on everyday life, facing job loss to care for their child, wearing masks long before this pandemic started just to protect compromised immune systems. Some are separated from spouses or other children just to be where they’re needed most: at the bedside of someone they love.

And yet… many of these parents are some of the most positive, faith-filled people I’ve ever met. Why? Because they’ve chosen to believe in something greater than their circumstances. They continue to hope. They’ve learned to find light in the darkest of places.

That’s the heart of the Law of Relativity:
We get to choose the meaning we assign to our situations. We don’t have to label them as purely good or bad—we decide how we’ll interpret and respond to what’s happening.

So how does this help us find peace during times like these?

The current climate in America is challenging. Things are uncertain. The future feels hazy. But we still have agency. We can choose how we respond to the world around us. We can take in the headlines and filter them instead of absorbing them. We can decide, right now, that we will show up with calm, courage, and faith—even when we don’t have all the answers.

So the next time it feels like the chaos is closing in, pause.
Take a breath.
And compare.
Ask yourself honestly: How bad is it really?

You might just find that even in the middle of uncertainty, there’s still room for peace, gratitude, and hope.

Click here for Part 1

_________________

•   To discover how to start choosing more effectively now, read The Jackrabbit Factor (FREE!)  
•   If you want more step-by-step guidance on creating the life you really want, join me in the Mindset Mastery program.
•   If you want my help overcoming that giant obstacle right in front of you, learn more and sign up for Genius Bootcamp.