Over the past few months, our lives have transformed in numerous ways. The COVID-19 pandemic has taken a toll on our physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
At a time when the entire nation is enveloped in fear and uncertainty owing to the pandemic, staying motivated can be a challenge, to say the least.
If you’ve been struggling to stay hopeful and feel your best amid the pandemic, we’ve created a guide to help you get started.
Go Back In Time for Inspiration
Learning how to cope with the pandemic is an ongoing struggle for many of us. Patricia Hartmann’s powerful historical fiction novel, “The Ojai—Pink Moment Promises,” tells the story of 18-year-old Meggie Baxter as she navigates the global pandemic—the Spanish Flu contagion—in 1918. Follow Meggie as she comes to terms with the destruction, chaos, and desolation caused by the massive tragedy.
How does she navigate such suffering and grief? Does she manage to heal from the pandemic? How does the aftermath of the tragedy shape her outlook on life? Explore these questions—and more—as you get transported to a small, rustic valley.
Find hope and energize your own spirit as you share Meggie’s journey from a young girl to an old woman, full of years and wisdom, having experienced and savored life’s trials and triumphs. As you go back in time for inspiration, you’ll feel more informed about the immediate and long-term implications of a pandemic, and how to confront each hurdle as it’s placed in your way.
Practice Gratitude and Resilience in Tandem
While the pandemic has taken a lot from us, it has also inculcated strong beliefs and emotions in us—gratitude and resilience being two of them. If you’re struggling to retain motivation, actively practice gratitude and resilience in tandem.
Start by recognizing circumstances and people that/whom you’re grateful for. Patricia Hartmann continually evokes gratitude in readers in her historical fiction novel, “Yosemite—One Last Golden Summer.” Here’s a glimpse:
“The music of the flute and the music of her heart grew into praise. For the first time in a long while, nothing mattered except the fact that God loved her. Sighing, Autumn took shelter in the shadow of his wings. He was enough.”
Click here to continue reading the first chapter.
As you feel grateful for your loved ones, God’s blessings, health, and happiness, you’ll feel more motivated. Practice resilience alongside gratitude to recover from the ongoing pandemic-related difficulties without feeling demoralized or defeated.
Bouncing back will take effort. However, once you start encouraging yourself to heal from any challenges that come your way, you’ll feel stronger and more capable of overcoming adversity. Keep at it and you’ll gradually become adept at springing back without letting the situation get the best of you.
Let Hope and Faith Guide the Way
Hope and faith come naturally once you master the art of practicing gratitude and resilience. However, if you’re struggling, focus on the impermanence of difficulties. They don’t say “this too shall pass” for nothing! No matter how dark the skies may get, the sun will reappear; clear, blue skies will dominate the horizon.
As you let hope and faith guide the way, you’ll feel less apprehensive. Being cautiously optimistic will drastically improve your day-to-day life and put a spring in your step. Remember, there’s light at the end of the tunnel. Hold onto it.
Looking for more inspiration? Browse through Patricia Hartmann’s collection of gripping, empowering, and moving modern fiction and historical romance novels. Her body of work is also available on Amazon and .