Politics are pretty messy right now in our country, to say the least. And, I believe that the impact from US policies is being felt, or at least discussed, around the world. So, regardless of whether you lean left, right, or somewhere in the middle, I believe that one thing that many of us can agree on is the high level, and sense, of uncertainty that we are feeling. With the latest talks, and issuance, of tariffs, potential shortages, and mass layoffs, amongst many other things, it’s a lot for me, to say the least.
How are you managing, and coping, with all of this?
Here are a few things that I believe can help us manage, and cope, with the constant change and uncertainty that is happening around us:
Limit the inflow of information
For me, probably the single most important thing that I do to stay afloat, in a world that sometimes feels like it wants to pull me under, is to limit the amount of information that I take in on a daily basis. Things have changed so rapidly this year, and there are days when the headlines move so quickly, it seems unbelievable. If I’m not careful, it can be a complete overload. So, anytime that I start to feel overwhelmed, I take a step back from, what feels like, never ending chaos. I turn the noise of this world off as much as possible. Sometimes, it’s simply too loud. And I embrace the quiet, and the peace that inevitably comes when I step away from the noise. In the quiet, my spirit is renewed. I focus better, and think clearer, without all of the noise. I am able to ground myself in my purpose and in my plans.
Prepare for uncertainty the best way that you can, but don’t allow worry to consume you.
I wish that I could ignore reality, but I can’t. The policies that are being issued by the US government have real-life consequences, and I have to face them. I believe that we have to prepare the best way that we can, but beyond that, we cannot allow worry to consume us. We must deal with life as it comes.
I can’t help but to wonder what the mental impact of all of this is on many people in our country right now?
Keep living and enjoying your life. Once again, don’t allow worry to consume you.
Sometimes this can be hard, but we must enjoy and embrace our lives to the best of our ability. We can’t allow the actions of others to steal our time, nor can we allow them to steal our joy. Time is our most precious resource, and it cannot be replenished. As long as we have life, we should make the most of it. Continuing to live and enjoy our lives, eases stress, keeps us grounded, and helps us to think clearer – enabling us to see solutions, not just problems. This can be hard some days, but it is, in itself, an act of resistance.
I honestly cannot write this without giving consideration to the difficult situations that some people may find themselves in at the current moment. The reality is that everyday won’t be great. In fact, there are days that may be downright miserable. Some people are experiencing real hardships right now. But I can assure you that even in the midst of your struggle, there can still be joy, sometimes we just have to look harder for it, and we may only see a glimpse of it. We have to know how to find joy in the simple things in life.
Take care of your physical health.
At this point, we all know that stress is detrimental to our health. We know the things that we should do: eat right, exercise, get a good night’s sleep, and so on… Next to our time, our health is our single most precious resource. We must protect our physical health. Have a nice meal. Go outside, get some fresh air, and go on a walk. Do things that ease your mind, and your body will relax. Make a commitment daily to your health and well-being.
Know that you will be okay.
Lastly, know that you will be okay. I know that there are days that seem so bleak, but in the end, I know that you will be okay, and I will too. Whenever I feel overwhelmed by all of the things that are happening around me, I think about my ancestors, and just people, in general, that lived long ago. They faced far worse hardships than what we are currently experiencing, and yet, somehow they survived.
Even when things don’t turn out exactly the way that we had hoped or planned that they would, we will still be okay. If you are a Christian, you know that the Bible gives us this assurance.
In conclusion
As I write all of these things, they sound somewhat cliché to me, even though I know that they are true. A lot of times, we expect for truth to be something big, profound or monumental. But, the reality is that most truths are quite simple. In the foreseeable future, it seems as if we may have a pretty long road ahead of us, and it’s a journey that we all must endure.
I realize that things are often easier said than done, and that there are many times that we may fail to live out these truths. However, I believe that we must keep aspiring to be the very best version of ourselves.
We were never promised that this life would be easy. But, we were promised that through it all, that God would never us, nor forsake us.
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