As we all know, 2020 is a year we will never forget. With the pandemic, Derecho, conversations about race and class, as well as a Presidential election, there is so much going on. And with the news of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s recent passing, we take time to celebrate her life, but we also ponder the political implications. It is easy to experience stress in all this. Some stress, of course, can be good. We all need it to work. Stress can keep our antenna strong and increase our wisdom. The concern is the amount of stress. Increased stress causes worry and this leads to anxiety.
We tend to dislike and avoid anxiety. Some of us get over-involved in current events as a way of coping. Others of us ignore what’s going on and pretend that nothing is happening. We avoid talking about the matter and tune it out. In all this, we need to remember it is within our power to be our own self during a time of anxiety. As long as we’re breathing, we are alive. This gives us hope. I think of words from Theodore Roosevelt who once said, “Do what you can, with what you’ve got, where you are.”
To carry forward as anxious individuals, we need to be flexible in our response to what is going on. It’s helpful to make adjustments in our schedules. We also need to remember how we have coped with a situation in the past. Chances are, we have gone through these times before. Additionally, we need to be mindful of others. We are connected to those around us. How can we help others and allow others to help us? Beyond all this, take time to meditate, eat well, and get a good night’s sleep.
We can make the most of these difficult times. A bit of self-awareness can be useful!