“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.” -Reinhold Niebuhr”
There are certain things in life that are guaranteed. One constant thing is change. We often don’t know when, where, or how, but what we do know is that change is inevitable. Some changes, such as changes with the economy, changes in politics, and even impending weather warnings, give us time to prepare. But what happens when we face sudden, unexpected changes such as what’s happening in the world as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? This is something that we never could have prepared ourselves for, and the reality is, this event has made history and changed life as we know it. It seems that almost overnight, we have been forced to change our schedules and plans to adjust to different standards of living, whether we want to accept it or not.
In a time of heightened anxiety and the unknown, here are some tips that you might find useful to help you remain emotionally healthy and calm during these chaotic times.
Take a DEEP BREATH and PRACTICE GRATITUDE.
“Gratitude can transform common days into thanksgivings, turn routine jobs into joy, and change ordinary opportunities into blessings.” – William Arthur Ward”
Take a moment and think, what do you have to be thankful for? If nothing else, give thanks for today, because no matter what you are facing, you are still here. Be thankful that today you have the strength to walk on your own, to express yourself and to have the opportunity to see another beautiful day. Life is not going to be perfect, be we must remain optimistic. Be thankful for today and look forward to brighter tomorrows.
HAVE FAITH.
“Faith is about trusting God when you have unanswered questions.” – Joel Osten
We were never promised that life would be easy. Yes, things do get hard, and life can throw us some curve balls. When you feel you don’t have any more to give, continue to believe that things will get better. Although you may not be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel, you must envision the victory. Just like you have faith when you get on a plane and expect it to take you to your intended destination, have the same type of faith in knowing that things will get better. This pandemic will not last forever.
PRACTICE POSITIVE THINKING.
“Life is 10 percent what you make it and 90 percent how you take it.” – Irving Berlin
Time and time again, it has been proven that a positive thought, word or action can be the difference between a positive or negative outcome. Waking up on the wrong side of the bed everyday with a bad attitude will get you just what you expect, a bad day! On the other hand, waking up with a positive attitude and speaking positive affirmations such as “Today is going to be a good day” and “I can do all things through Christ who give me strength,”can’t help but to give you a happier state of mind which can lead to a more successful and productive day.
LIVE, LAUGH and LOVE, not tomorrow, but TODAY.
“It is impossible for you to be angry and laugh at the same time. Anger and laughter are mutually exclusive and you have the power to choose either.” – Wayne Dyer
What if today was your last day? Would you have any regrets? Would you wish that you had lived more, loved more, laughed more? Well, the good thing is that you’re still here and it’s not too late. Start today. Enjoy the things that you like to do. Enjoy nature, enjoy listening to your favorite music or reading a good book. Laughter can also be an easy way to ease the blues. It has been considered as the best medicine available. Pop on your favorite comedy and laugh away some of that stress.
Also, remember that the gift of LOVE is one of life’s most precious gifts. What the world needs now, is love sweet love. Remain caring and compassionate. Love for others but first start with LOVE FOR YOURSELF.
Know that “This too shall pass.”
“You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have.” – Bob Marley
Although we may be facing times of chaos, know that it is only temporary. Day by day, step by step, things will get better. You may not be able to see the sunshine behind the clouds, but know that it is there. The sunshine is coming, it’s right around the corner.
HAVE COURAGE.
“I’ve learned that courage was not the absence of fear, but the triumph over it. The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear.” – Nelson Mandela
There comes a time when you must have faith and fight fear. Courage is simply faith in action. You don’t know how you’re going to do it, but in order to get to the next step, and in order to live your destiny, you are going to have to do some things that might be challenging and scary. Fear is just that, fear, you have the courage you need to do whatever you need to do. Remember that you have what you need exactly when you need it.
SURRENDER.
“I gave in, and admitted that God was God.” – C.S. Lewis
There will be a time when you must surrender and let go to things you can’t control. There may be a time when you will just need to let go and be still. For many of us, that time is now. When you’ve done all you can do, you have to remember that sometimes saying “yes” and accepting to what is, is the most powerful thing you can do. Never give up, but also don’t have the need to maintain control over situations that you can’t change. Let go and let God and simply watch the miracle unfold.
Stay safe and positive. For more information or tips on mental health, visit DrRonica.com.
