Starting off with the COVID19 pandemic itself, mistrust in the information flows, economic hits on personal and global levels, polarization in societies in regards to measures, political stances and vaccines, we had a lot to process and many decisions to make. All of it was a catalyst for deep reflections. A trigger to depressive states. A reminder that we are more fragile than we thought.
We lost people – friends, family members, colleagues. The “bigger picture” came closer. Priorities shifted. Meaning was lost or blurred. More questions surfaced rather than answers.
Nevertheless, humans adapt. Rapidly for that matter. We embraced remote working, the peacefulness and emptiness of isolation, exercising at home, the after-effects of COVID19, the restrictions on travel and much more. We found ways to live in the context that surrounds us. What’s more, we began to be productive and proactive, rather than reactive in many social as well as personal areas of life. People went to protests. Conspiracy theories sparked debates. Psychological and economic support was offered. We took matters in our hands as much as we possibly could.
Then, the war in Ukraine began on 24th February. Disbelief. Anger. It rocked our worlds, personal values and even identities. Who are we? What do we think? What do we stand for? Polarization reappeared as each and every one of us needed to find their pillars of truth and stable ground to step on. An information flow that left a bad after taste repeated and magnified the situation that we were part of during COVID19.
The pandemic itself almost vanished from the public conversation.
All of these global provesses and stressors were on top of our already existing, individual aspirations, challenges and goals. Personal and professional relationships began absorbing added layers of anxiety, question marks, negativity and reactiveness.
Imagine you carry a cup of coffee and someone abruptly bumps into you. You spill your coffee, the cup shatters. What happened?
You say: they pushed me and I spilled my coffee!
Wrong answer! Why?
Because what you spilled and what you broke is what you carry. If you had a paper cup with water and someone abruptly bumps into you, you would have spilled your water and the paper cup would have rolled on the floor a few meters away from you. If you carried tea – you would have spilled your tea. If you carried cold milk – you would have spilled your milk. The point is, when distressing events happen and life shakes us, what comes out is what’s already inside and what you already carry.
Some would react aggressively. Some would close off. Some would express gratitude. Others would show balance. Some would focus on the problems. Others would search for meaning and so on.
The stress we feel is caused by both:
1/ events which abruptly shake us to our core and
2/ stack up of stressors on top of the already existing pressures in our lives.
In other words, in the past few years we have been consistently exposed to situations that majorly challenge our capacity to deal with and process effectively stress. These same events showed us, more than ever, what we carry inside and forced many to reflect on a deeper level.
Ensuring that we take care of our bodies and our minds is not a luxury but imperative for maintaining our ability to think critically, make good decisions, be healthy and sustain the capacity to help others. Taking care of our experience of stress and its implications is like “putting your mask first before helping others”.
It is your body’s job to react to what’s happening and to put you in an optimal state for survival. This means that you need to take really good care of it and to support it, especially when we experience stress for long periods of time. Exercise, eat well, go to bed at a time that’s good for you, drink plenty of water, listen to your body, go outside. More than ever you need to prioritize these activities even if they seems basic or minor. They would make a big difference to your life. It need not be more complicated that that.
No matter how complex and multilayered the overall environment seems, each one of us has a number of specific things that push our stress buttons. What is pushing yours? What happens that really makes you anxious, nervous, stressed, constantly tired, hopeless… ?
Is it a particular type of conversation that you are having?
Is it a specific aspect of your daily work routine?
Is it the news?
Is it a person/people?
Is it the work-hours?
Is it a thought you are having on repeat?
etc.
Write it all down. This will provide clarity around what you are trying to manage. It enables us to have more control and be deliberate in our actions towards feeling better.
Sounds vague? Worry not and pay attention because this is perhaps the most effective stress-relief approach you can introduce in your life. Start by using some guided stress-relief visualizations that take little time. YouTube search for "guided medidations" is a great starting point. Remember that your perceptions (aka how your mind interprets external stimuli) is what provokes the responses we have - be it fear, anxiety, tiredness or something else. Your mind is not as objective as you’d want it to be and we all need to use that to our advantage not to our disadvantage. Shift the perceptions.
1. Explanation on why visualizations work in this case and are super useful:
Guided Visualization: Dealing with Stress
2. Guided Meditation and Visualization for stress relief
Example by 'relax for a while' YouTube Channel
Is it coffee? Is it water? Is it milk? Introduce a little consciousness around what you want to hold in yourself and what will spill out next time you are being tested by life. Would you like to be calmer, more proactive, more grateful, more positive, or something else? It takes a consious intention that will set the direction in which you will go. Where focus goes, energy flows. Remember that and step on the notion. We would advise on writing it down.
Translated in multiple languages, you can see the illustrated booklet and dig a little depper on the subject as well. Access it here.
Investing time and effort in stress-management is meaningful. It would assist you in leading a life of purpose and productivity. Do not neglect yourself.
Stay safe and take good care of your most valuable asset - yourself!
Thank you for reading.
We hope you found it useful.
Share with your tribe of friends, family or colleagues if you think this could support someone you care about.