I thrive on routine and having a plan. Consistency is my superpower. Yet, I am flexible, and I can typically handle the unexpected.
Then Covid-19 happened.
It didn’t take long to realize it wasn’t going anywhere anytime soon. And if the virus itself wasn’t a fear, the changes happening as a result of the virus certainly were.
I experienced increased anxiety, worry, sadness, uncertainty, powerlessness and fear of the future. I recognized the need to get my shit together (no matter what was going on in the world), get my negative thinking under control and come up with a new routine.
We’re all very different as to how much uncertainty we can tolerate in life. Some people enjoy taking risks and thrive off of the lack of predictability, while others find the randomness and volatility overwhelming.
We all have a limit. Know yours.
My first step was accepting my feelings about the pandemic, the uncertainty and the way people were reacting to the situation. I accepted that there were few answers and some vastly different opinions on the matter.
Accepting things didn’t mean I was for or against it. It didn’t mean I liked what was happening or how things were being handled. I simply allowed it to be… as it was… without imagining that I had a right or responsibility to change it, control it or dictate how others should respond.
I can’t control how people are reacting or the economy. I can’t control the new rules and restrictions that are put in place.
But I CAN control me. What is my part? What can I do? It starts with me. Acceptance of this situation (or any other) allows me to get to work. It allows me to focus on solutions and develop a game plan…first for myself and then for others.
If you feel overwhelmed by fear, uncertainty and worry, it’s important to know that you’re not alone. Many of us are in the same Covid-19 boat floating around without a life vest when we weren’t even interested in tickets in the first place. Yet, here we are experiencing new struggles we’ve never dealt with before and unrelenting problems we have never faced.
Please know, that no matter how helpless and hopeless you feel, there are steps you can take to better deal with your circumstances and the state of the world. Don’t know where to start? Start by reaching out to a mental health professional.
Here’s a link to a self-quiz about how you’re coping with pandemic.
Here’s a link to some resources you might find helpful.
Stay safe,
Carrie
