Humans crave certainty. COVID-19 has brought us anything but that. Fortunately, there is still a way to create certainty during an uncertain time. Read to learn the steps, and learn how to apply them in your own life so that you can thrive during uncertainty.
UNCERTAINTY IS SCARY.
As humans we love certainty. We love the expected, and we love the routine of life. COVID-19 has changed all of that for us. We don’t know what is going to happen next. We don’t know if it’s going to get better soon, or worse. We don’t know the complete impact it’s going to have on our economy. We don’t know how long this is going to last. What we do know is that this is a scary and uncomfortable time that is bringing up a of emotions that we don’t want to feel.
So ultimately the question is, what do we do? How do we deal with the unknown? How do we persevere and stay resilient through this uncomfortable period of time? The one thing that I do know about the human mind is that it is capable of enduring great adversity. This pandemic has not been the first for the human population to face, and it will definitely not be the last. Although we are unsure as to how long this time will last, there are a few things that we do to ease the impact of this uncertainty on our mental health. There are three steps in particular that you can take to ease the stress of this pandemic in your life.
Step 1. Accept the pandemic as it is and the uncertainty that it brings with it.
Acceptance of this situation is key if you want to move forward with it. Until we come to terms with the way things are, we will never take the next step of putting in the effort to make a change. The more that you keep denying and repressing things, the worse the outcome will be. Do what you need to do to accept this situation. Maybe you cry, maybe you scream out in anger and punch a wall, or maybe you hide out in your room for a few days. Do whatever you need to do to grieve in a limited period of time. Make sure that this grieving period is limited because you don’t want to dwell in these feelings for too long. Don’t forget to give yourself a pat on the back for being courageous enough to be vulnerable to these emotions and for simply expressing them as they are.
Step 2. Take it one day at a time.
Focus on what you can do today to make this the best day possible. Ask yourself this question every day when you wake up in the morning to help you set your intentions for the day. When your mind wanders into the past or the future, because it will, gently bring yourself back into the moment that you are in now. The person that you are in the present, and the actions that you take in this moment are what matter the most. If you truly want to be enlightened on this topic, read The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle.
I could make you a long list of things that you currently don’t have control over. Unfortunately, that list is useless and doesn’t matter because you don’t have control over any of these things! We spend too much of our precious time and energy worrying about things we cannot control. I want to challenge you to shift your perspective to focus on the things that you can control. When we think about the things we can control our focus comes back to the present moment, and for that, go back to step #2.
There you have it. The 3 simple things you can start doing today to help you persevere through this time of uncertainty. This won’t be easy and initially you will struggle to apply these steps in your own life. However, if you stay persistent and continue to practice these steps on a daily basis, you will notice a change in your life. Don’t ever underestimate how powerful your mind is and your ability to overcome any adversity that comes your way.