Negative Thinking, Who Asked You?
We may be on month 2 or 78 of the global COVID-19 pandemic, but really, who’s counting anymore? How are you holding up?? If you’re like others, feeling anxious, overwhelmed, and stir-crazy, we know that everyone is trying to cope in their own way. It’s not easy and you’re not alone.
Dealing with all the changes to our normal routines, some good and some bad, has left us in this odd stage of transition. We are trying to figure out what changes will stick around and what is gone forever. So how can you cope with the emotional aspect, like feelings of fear and anxiety, and also prepare for the stress that’s going to continue into the months ahead as we navigate what the new world looks like? In Stephen Covey’s book, The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, he talks about categorizing all those worries into two buckets: the things you can control and the things you are concerned about (what you can’t control). He has coined the concept of the Circle of Control and Circle of Concern. Being able to discern what falls in or out of these two buckets is crucial to our mental well-being.
You may be concerned about the national debt, but do you have control over how the government spends money? Probably not. What you can control is who you vote for in the next election. You may be concerned about the environmental crisis, but do you have control over the deforestation and lumber industry? Most likely not, but you do have control over doing your best at purchasing sustainable and reusable products. You may be concerned about how much the coronavirus can and will spread throughout the community and country, but do you have control over it? No one does, but you can control your individual spread of the virus by minimizing your social interaction, wearing a mask in public, and washing your hands frequently.
As you begin to recognize the things you are concerned about versus what you have control over, you’ll hopefully feel more ownership in your emotions and be able to direct your energy into your personal daily actions, i.e. the things you have control of. Putting aside things you have little or no control over helps with thinking too much (or overthinking) about situations that you are concerned about, but again, don’t have immediate control over. By focusing on things that are in your immediate control, you’ll be on your way to having healthy coping skills for COVID-19 and beyond.
If you find yourself in need of immediate assistance for a mental health need or crisis situation, please make use of one of the below services, most of which are available to you at no cost.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
National Domestic Violence Hotline
Resources:
https://psychcentral.com/coronavirus/
https://www.habitsforwellbeing.com/the-circle-of-concern-and-influence/
Image: https://www.reddit.com/r/coolguides/comments/fm7v7x/guide_to_what_you_can_and_cannot_control_during/
Carrie Stephens Art
TheCounselingTeacher.com