Deja Vu
“Déjà vu is more than a fleeting moment of surprise, instantly forgotten because we never bother with things that make no sense. It shows that time doesn’t pass. It’s a leap into something we have already experienced and that is being repeated.”
Photo by Dzmitry Dudov (Dead__Angel_) on Unsplash
Deja vu - it’s the strange feeling that you have when you feel that you have already experienced what is happening to you now. The hairs at the back of your neck stand and you feel a chill. It has happened to me several times in my life and I don’t have any explanation for it. I recall situations and conversations like a memory even though I know factually, they have never happened before.
Anyway, I’m not writing about the unexplained phenomenon of deja vu here. Rather, the word aptly describes how I feel right now about the restrictions imposed on us in Singapore to cope with the surge of the community spread of the Covid-19 virus. It’s deja vu for me as the same thing happened to all of us in May 2020 when Circuit Breaker measures were imposed then. We have restrictions on our outdoor activities in terms of what we can or can’t do. Schools are closed as of today. When I first learnt of this last Sunday, I felt a surge of stress as I recalled how stressful it was for me and the kids in May last year. I know that we have gone through it before and survived. However, the feelings of stress, anxiety and frustration still came up in me so much so that when my youngest daughter saw the change in my expression, she gave me a hug and asked me to take deep breaths. Look who’s coaching who now!
I reached out to friends here in Singapore and asked them for their thoughts and lessons learnt from their experiences of Circuit Breaker in 2020 that will help them with this year’s Circuit Breaker-Lite as some have termed it as. I hope their insights give you hope and encouragement and I would love to hear your views as well. You can connect with me on LinkedIn or drop me a note here.
[I’ve kept their identities as anonymous to respect their privacy and to provide them with a safe space to share their thoughts and feelings.]
Yes, there are frustrations and anxiety but all my friends are filled with gratitude and have adopted a growth mindset towards to the current situation. They are amazing human beings who, despite the uncertainties, are hopeful and resilient …
“The 2nd phase was expected but still a dampener. However, it is for the greater good. We have to appreciate that what we take for granted, others are praying hard for. I’ve learnt to enjoy and appreciate the simple things in life, to take the chance to do or learn something new. Never let a good crisis go to waste as quoted by Winston Churchill.”
“I feel a sense of weariness that we are back to square one. However, I have also learnt to be creative, finding new things to do, and spending time doing things we have been neglecting.”
“As a self-employed entrepreneur and single-handedly managing my household, having to return to phase 2 brought some tension in my line. Nonetheless, I am thankful to be living here in Singapore, having witnessed and experienced how our Government been restlessly placing the right measures for the well-being of our people and ensuring the ongoing of the country’s economy in the fight of this pandemic. For me, the good that has come out from it and especially from Circuit Breaker last year, is to not to take things for granted and always be prepared.”
“I was kind of upset because my plans for the family was affected. However, I realise that each of us plays an important role in improving or worsening the situation. I need to be a responsible citizen in adhering the guidelines.”
“I was frustrated at first - a friend's wedding got cancelled, activities I planned for the family have to be postponed. But after getting more clarity on the new restrictions, I am thankful and I know, we as a nation, we must do our part. I'm also grateful that we have vigilant policy makers who reacted quickly to this sudden rise of community cases. It's not an easy decision to move the nation one step back so I'm proud of my government. I’ve learnt to welcome changes. For some people, they are fearful of changes and uncertainties. People generally prefer to know what is coming next so they can be well prepared. I was one of them, not know my future working arrangement whether it’s working from home or the office and when my son’s childcare centre will reopen - these uncertainties had made me very anxious. However, after last year’s Circuit Breaker, I’ve learnt to just live in the moment - to focus on the positive!”
“I am feeling quite sad because the situation had stabilized for a while in Singapore and life was starting to get a bit better, so the recent development is a major setback. Having gone through last year's Circuit Breaker, I think it has prepared me for what to expect. Therefore, I can calmly deal with the situation and adapt accordingly as compared to last year.”
“Last year was tough - I was fretting over how I was going to work and care for my children who were at home. My husband and I worked as a team and we survived the period. I got to know my children better with the extra time spent with them. For this period, I intend to read more books. One book I have just finished is “The Happiest Man on Earth” by a Holocaust survivor and it taught me that despite our suffering, we can still contribute to the well-being of others and be kind to them. This will be the mentality I hope to bring with me into the restricted phase.”
It is as though we are stuck in this twilight zone of uncertainties without a clear end in sight.
However, I am encouraged by my friends’ sharing. Their insights remind me to be grateful for my blessings, to be flexible, to keep growing and adapting to the circumstances. I’m also reminded that we are not going through this alone and we can turn to each other for encouragement and support.
What is your main challenge during this period?
If you need someone to provide you support and a perspective shift, reach out to me here to book a complimentary 30-minutes call to see if coaching is something you would like to explore with me.
