We’ve just made it to mid-2020 and this year has already plunged us into a worldwide pandemic, horrible bushfires in Australia and an eruption of protests following the death of George Floyd (and not all of them have been peaceful). It comes as no surprise that some of us might find ourselves paralysed with unproductive fear and stress. While staying creative and optimistic might seem impossible, it’s now more important than ever. And here are a few tips to overcome your fear.
You can’t control everything
This is a fact you need to accept. Try to live in the moment and pay more attention to things you can actually change and improve instead of panicking over something beyond your control. Even if it’s something as small as the time you wake up, how well you brush your teeth and how hot you prefer your morning tea – start with establishing your power over these things. Step by step, you’ll see the sense of being in charge of your life returning right where it belongs – in your brain and heart.
As the prayer says:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.
Avoid things that frighten you
We’re at our strongest when fighting our fears but the amount of fear we’ve all experienced this year is just beyond anyone’s strength. It’s overwhelming and absorbing. Fear can shut down our willpower and create anxiety.
If this is something you’ve been feeling recently, practise being in the moment: focus on your breathing, reflect on your enormous contribution to fighting the hell our world is going through. And it truly is enormous, by the way – you’re staying safe and keeping others safe, you’re educating yourself on important matters and you’re raising conversations within your bubble. Seriously, you’re doing a brilliant job! You can survive anything.
Ditch your bad habits
There is enough on your plate already, don’t suddenly add becoming overweight or overdoing the alcohol to the list of things to hate about 2020. It might be tough but now is the time for discipline and self-love. When we’re not satisfied with how structured and focused we are, we tend to become lazy and disappointed in ourselves. We blame and punish ourselves for failures. Order and discipline is something you can control.
Switch off your TV
And take a break from any other news sources. Watching the drama unfold is addictive, we want more details, all the latest updates. But do we really need to follow the news so religiously? Designate a specific time to check out the situation in the world. For example, 20 minutes before dinner. Make sure you read and/or watch not only the horror stories but also something fun and inspiration, as a reminder that not everything about the time and place we live in is bad.
