Tag Archives: Stress

Inspiration

How to Make Feeling Inspired a Priority

As I was reading the UCLA Fall 2022 magazine, I came across an article titled High Anxiety by Dan Gordon that caught my interest. I assumed it was another discussion on how real post-covid/high inflation anxiety (PCHIA) is, with perhaps some new suggestions on how to handle the anxiety. It begins:

With its persistent grip, COVID-19 has exacted an unimaginable toll on all of us. It’s taken lives and livelihoods, canceled celebrations, isolated us from family, friends, and co-workers. Coupled with a news cycle dominated by ceaseless reports of global war, mass shootings and a nation seemingly hopelessly divided, we shouldn’t be surprised that we’re all dealing with increasing amounts of crippling anxiety.

Yes, indeed.

The author included familiar suggestions that are good to remember:

  • Remember You Have Choices
  • Face Things
  • Deep Breaths
  • Exert Some Control
  • Keep it Routine
  • Get Outside
  • Flip the Script

I wanted to further pursue these suggestions to see if I could discover new techniques to help tamp down the anxiety. I encountered several validating statistics from the American Psychological Association that mentioned that among the (PCHIA) symptoms are “forgetfulness, inability to concentrate, and difficulty making decisions.”

So I felt a bit relieved that I’m not losing my cognitive abilities, but still wanted to learn more about how to handle this anxiety. This led to a study of Future Tripping. This, in turn, leads us back to Mindfulness.  Wikipedia’s definition of mindfulness is:

“the practice of purposely bringing one’s attention to the present-moment experience without evaluation.”

 My interpretation is that inherent in this definition is the concept of Future Tripping. Future Tripping is also called anticipatory anxiety. It’s part of the human condition of looking into the imagined future and anticipating the outcome. The practice of future tripping increases anxiety, however, and when we’re anxious, chances are we’ll anticipate the worst possible outcome. So future tripping is a good thing to avoid. We can do that by practicing mindfullness.

In my pursuit of more help on this subject, I discovered a fascinating concept that I had not heard of before: Searching not just for serenity, or peace, but more importantly, for inspiration.

In Gabby Bernsteinʻs blog article Beware of Future Trippingshe reiterates the idea that the fastest way to release an outcome and the pressure of expectations is to reconnect with the present.  Part of her suggestion to do “one small thing each day” she mentions that the purpose is not only to focus on now, but to pursue inspiration. When we change our expectation of “what will happen when I do this,” to “what can I do to feel inspired,” the one small thing each day opens up endless opportunities for positive, surprising, and self-caring outcomes.

I could go on, this concept facinates me so much. But instead, I’ll suggest that you check out her website for a four-step framework for making feeling inspired a priority.

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It’s Not Over ’Til It’s Over – The Continuing Pandemic

Aloha,

Well, THIS caught my eye. I was hoping that by this time, December 2021, I would be able to write an article about “Whew, that was close! Now we can get back to normal.” If only. . .

This last almost-two years has been unbelievable – impossible to describe easily or painlessly. From one level of stress to the next, smothered in conflict, heartbreak, and sadness, and just plain denial when it’s gotten to be too much, we’re in danger of sagging. We never give up, but we may sag.

The uncomfortable reality is that it’s not over yet. We still must take control of how we internalize all of this negativity, find ways to lift the heaviness, and, depending on our circumstances, keep moving on to the best of our abilities. That’s the key; we must keep moving.

So when I came across the following article from the Cleveland Clinic dated September 13, 2021, I thought that the advice presented was extremely helpful. I will summarize some of the main points in the article, but I suggest that reading the entire article would be even more helpful.

The article presents 10 ways to manage stress as the pandemic lingers:

  1. Take (some) control
  2. Be in the present
  3. Stop comparing
  4. Keep moving forward
  5. Take a break from decisions (my favorite)
  6. Find silver linings
  7. Connect
  8. Find new ways to de-stress
  9. Work through your feelings
  10. Get help if you need it

I hope these topics have piqued your interest to read the full article on the Cleveland Clinic site. Think of it this way, if nothing else, reading through the material will keep your mind busy for awhile. It feels validating, at least, to know we’re not alone in this discomfort. Personally, the 2 points I find the most helpful are to Connect and Keep Moving Forward.

Together we will make it through. Here’s to a new year with new beginnings.

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