Maximizing Your Potential

Maximizing Your Potential

By: Elena Ossoski

The global pandemic offered a never before seen plethora of free time. But, it was not necessarily a bad thing. For most individuals the seemingly bottomless pool of time spent at home allowed us to be frivolous with our endeavors and deliberately care-free. If nothing else, the last year and a half has been an extreme period of growth: some for the worse and others for the better.

Society has approached a significant shift in how we look at ourselves in the mirror. Social media and Zoom calls provide an unprecedented amount of face-to-face time with ourselves and each other daily that allow us to get an up-close look at all of the increasingly prevalent ways in which the world is changing before us.

As the human race evolves, we need to continue to look inwards. The ample opportunities that arose for us all to maximize our potential were impossible to ignore. I have realized that there is no better return on an investment than the reward you receive from investing in yourself. Contrary to the previous belief that caring about oneself is selfish, we have taken this concept and completely reversed it. It is interesting to think that, at one point in time, setting aside a moment or two to take care of yourself was seen as self-indulgent and glutinous. 

This societal pattern is not to be confused with burnout culture, which has been breeding chronic psychological issues and habits that induce physical exhaustion. On the contrary, this is an inner awakening that has encouraged people across the world to develop their passions, habits, actions, and thoughts. Rather than sitting on your hidden talents and seemingly pointless hobbies, this is the time to transform them. We have been able to turn these trivial pursuits into beneficial tools that allow individuals to become better versions of themselves, simply for the joy that it will bring to themselves and no one else. Nevertheless, if it does benefit others, then that is just one happy accident

Skincare has been at the forefront of pop culture for a while now. But, 2020 was the year that SPF, retinol, and ice rollers took center stage. Face-rolling, meditative yoga, clarifying sheet masks, and reusable bottles filled with electrolyte-infused water have altogether become the modern-day Holy Grail.

The pandemic also introduced us to the most noteworthy accessory of the year: protective face masks. Since then, masks have been an essential part of our everyday lives. Masks were surprisingly easy to adjust to, especially since their purpose is to protect you and those around you. As if being required to wear a face-covering in public was not  unusual enough, “maskne” has become a rather unexpected addition to society’s “new normal.” However, the aggravating introduction of “maskne” affected mask-wearers of all ages. Zits are no longer solely a teenager’s problem, irritating our skin every time we mask-up. In turn, taking care of one’s skin became increasingly crucial as the days went by for mask-wearers of all ages in order to combat bothersome blemishes. 

Everyone feels the urge to escape. As long walks became our life preserver, the outdoor dreamscapes began to morph into our oasis: its beauty was finally appreciated again. Since the outdoors have been one of the most frequently visited hot spots of the last year, sunscreen became the talk of the town. Though we should have applied SPF daily before the pandemic, its necessity has become relevant to the less skincare-savvy population, all thanks to the extra time under the sun. Moreover, the spare time provided for more time spent intentionally focusing on the countless ways to reinvigorate our lives.

Although this will sound cheesy, the key to my lack of insanity during quarantine was to focus my energy on working towards my dreams, both small and large. Whether these were actions to get me one step closer to a life-long goal or a simple task to complete within the hour, defining goals provides me with a sense of purpose. In my eyes,  fashion has become more critical than ever. Personal style would have been merely invisible to the outside world if social media did not exist. Do not mistake this with the misconception that everyone lost their sense of style over quarantine. On the contrary, the lack of watchful eyes made it easier to experiment and flaunt one’s creative side. Frankly, I think we all need a break like this year was, in some ways, to let the artistic juices flow a bit. 

Meg Rice, UM Square Magazine alumnae, describes her experiences with dressing up during quarantine.

“I’ve always found it important to dress in a way that reflects my personality. Frills, pinks, and quirky accessories that exhibit lightheartedness and sweetness bring me comfort and confidence when I wear them” Rice said.

Rice goes on to explain that, “being able to see who someone is on the inside, shown outwardly by their sense of fashion, is something immensely joyful to me, and something I consider as part of my self-care.”

While many find peace in the simple act of getting dressed or going outside for their daily workout, others marvel at the earth’s mysteriously spiritual healing qualities. Hailey Layne, a member of the UM Square Magazine staff, has found solace in taking care of plants. 

“I think taking care of something and seeing it develop over time can be very rewarding, especially since a lot of the aspects of our lives have become somewhat stagnant,” Layne said. “Gardening keeps me aware of the passing time and how precious it can be. My level of awareness is a big contributor to my mental health. I know change can be scary for many people, but I think seeing it occur in my plants is fascinating. It can be a visible example of how change isn’t always bad,” Layne said.

We have learned to step back, to take it slow, and to re-evaluate what makes us happy which, at the end of the day, is what makes us individuals. As we continue to practice our one-of-kind pattern of joy-seeking and self-discovery, it is necessary to keep in mind that the end goal of a thought or action will never be the same for everyone. What brings us together is the constant motivation to do whatever is possible to be better for yourself and no one else. 

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Photos by Caroline Kuyrkendall and Elena Ossoski.