We live in interesting, turbulent and often frightening times. If there's not one thing to worry about, there's something else. Pandemics, nuclear threats, inflation, unemployment... sometimes life feels like one long parade of news that feel like they are throwing us off our game...
At least they can be very worrisome and distracting. In recent months, I have had more than a few counseling clients tell me that they have trouble staying focused, making plans, and not succumbing to distractions.
If you read self-help books or even attend spiritual or self-improvement workshops and retreats, chances are you learn various "tools" to help you feel calmer and more centered: Meditation, relaxation and consciousness practices that are designed to calm our frayed nerves.
The question I sometimes get goes something along these lines:
"That's all good and fine and effective when you are sitting in a peaceful retreat center where outside life all but ceases to intrude and disturb, but what happens when we're AT HOME or AT WORK and dealing with a barrage of fearful news, an angry boss and screaming kids?"
And that is a very valid question! Oh, the times I have felt like I was "getting my money's worth" while at a retreat and then came right back down to earth after a few days at home!
I find that one important thing we can do is pause and check when tension and worry arises... and ask ourselves whether or not the source of our concern is even something we can have any control over?
We can definitely worry about the war in Ukraine, but is there anything we can control? Effectively, our best bet is likely to say a prayer for those in the line of fire and perhaps volunteer for an organization that's collecting clothing and staples to send to civilians who have been displaced.
If we are worried about the economy, we can replace fretting with an honest evaluation of our situation, and what backup plans we can put in place... because worrying about the country will only help us develop stomach ulcers!
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