Crucial Distancing: The Importance of Space in All Areas of Life

Every year, several dictionary publishers choose a Word of the Year (which can also be a multi-word term). Last year, for example, Oxford dictionaries chose “climate emergency” and Dictionary.com chose “existential.”

If I had to place a bet on what this year’s would be, I think I’d go with “social distancing.”

This term has catapulted into the lexicon as one of our key protectors in the battle against the current pandemic. As we continue to grapple with our new normal, social distancing will be one of the most important actions we can take to stay safe.

For many reasons, this is such a hard time. We’re hurting. We want to be near friends and family. We need human touch – it nourishes us. 

But given that we need to be apart from others these days, it helps to think about things from a different perspective.  

We need contact. Ironically, we also need space.

“Distance lends enchantment to the view.“

– Mark Twain

With everything that’s happening in the world, it can feel as if the four walls of our home have started to creep in a bit. Call it COVID-Claustrophobia.

You know what they opposite of that is?  That feeling when you look out over an expansive vista in nature. A sunset over the sea, a verdant valley, the Grand Canyon… there’s a certain peace that comes from experiencing wide-open spaces that lifts our souls and broadens our perspective. Almost unconsciously, we relax and sigh contentedly.

While we can’t always venture to some far-off retreat in our daily lives, we don’t need to – we simply need to find some buffers.

Just opportunities to step back to process and reflect. When we give ourselves space and time – as well as the chance to clarify our intent — our world opens up a bit. A whole new personal panorama reveals itself.

One idea is to periodically take a breath – quite literally, in fact. Just a few deep breaths can calm our body and create a distance from what happens to you and your response to it. By being less reactive, we can be more conscious in how we choose to ascribe meaning to a situation. And then, respond more constructively.

A simple change like this can dramatically improve our lives. It only takes a few seconds, and it can make a big difference.

“The soul needs more space than the body.”

– Alex Munthe

Space like the kind I describe above can be harder to come by, especially these days. I have another suggestion, though, that’ll take you back to your elementary school days: Give yourself a “recess.”

Remember heading to the playground after lunch, blowing off some steam and letting loose a bit? It was both a physical release and a mental reprieve. We may not have the energy of our grade-school selves, but that doesn’t mean we don’t need recess anymore!

Block off some time off to get away from the day’s requirements. Get some exercise (20 minutes of working up a sweat can do wonders – if you don’t have 20, do 10). Take a walk, read a book, or go somewhere peaceful and just soak it in.  Maybe even channel your younger self and play a game of tag with the kids. Classics never go out of style, after all.

One of my favorite “recess” activities is meditation. It allows me to calm my nerves, relax my muscles, and quiet some of my mental chatter. Not only does it improve that particular moment in my day – it makes the rest of the day more enjoyable and effective.

“Change is inevitable. Growth is optional.“

– John Maxwell

Like it or not, we are in an age of increased apartness, at least for the time being. And yet this change can offer immense opportunity. It’s not about separation, but expansion. A little distance allows for reflection, growth, and nourishment. It can be a gift we give ourselves (and others), setting us free in ways we may not have experienced before.

As we all are painfully aware, distance can be difficult. Yet it can also be a gift and a chance for personal growth. In the end, it’s all a function of your intent.