'The feel good factor feels more like the feel bad factor!' a friend exclaimed to me. We were having a conversation about the stress she was under, this was not just about her job, you see her work colleagues were all attending 'outplacement training programmes' because the words 'redundancy' and 'restructuring' were resounding throughout her organisation and, quite rightly, she was feeling anxious. She was also very frustrated about the current economic climate, the uncertainty, the cost of living seemed to be getting her down, she wasn't the fun loving person I recognised. I felt for her, she was pretty low. 'How are you getting through all of this without stressing?' she asked directly. I gave her question some thought, she was right, we are living through difficult times, change is happening beyond our control. During troubling times we need to adapt to change by being flexible in our approach. We need to be aware of our behaviour and the impact it may have on others, I've noticed during troubling times people seem more het up about the smallest of things, I have witnessed so much road rage over the last few months. We also need to be mindful of our own thinking habits, it is too easy to feel negative about oneself during troubling times.
So, for my friend, I came up with a list. My list for 'getting through troubling times' consisted of the following, in no particular order:
I take one moment at a time and one day at a time
I turn problems into concerns (a different perspective lightens the load)
I do not waste time or energy fretting about things I have no control over. There is no point
I watch my spending, I question myself even more, How many new pairs of shoes do I really need?
I act the kid. You'll find me on the park swings on a good day or break dancing to my kids crazy music in an evening. Now that sort of fun is free!
I make a conscious effort to slow down. I am running my own race at my own pace.
I keep a watchful eye over my health, that means eating the right things most of the time
I reflect more by seeing the bigger picture (see my page on Miniature Earth)
I surround myself with inspiring people and run from cynics
I try to encourage and motivate others
I am not ashamed to cry (yes, I am a big wailer!) yet I know laughter is the tonic we all need
I keep things in my life as simple as I want them to be
I exercise (even though I may not feel motivated at times)
I appreciate those close to me (I don't know what I would do without them)
I declutter my mind from negativity
I read good books
I write to offload
I embrace faith
I pray
I count my blessings
What's on your list?