I realize that we are in a time of great uncertainty. The news is continually screaming about impending calamity of some sort or another, and it is easy to find people around who are afraid. Also, there are consequences that are fundamentally affecting people’s lives, and these circumstances can seem scary, challenging, or worrisome. I get all that.
You don’t have to look far to find stuff feels bad, stuff that reinforces a feeling of vulnerability and uncertainty.
But did you consider…
…that you have gotten through everything that has ever occurred in your life to this date? I mean, you are alive, are you not? This can’t be the first time that something unwanted occurred in your life. You must have had uncertain situations before? How’d you survive those experiences? Since you made it this far, isn’t it likely that you’re gonna find a way to get through this as well?
…that if you possess a human brain (and I’m pretty sure that only humans will be reading this post), you got a 2-million year old organism that is built to freak out, even unnecessarily, as a survival protection? It is programmed to react in strong reflexive ways when it senses danger. Is it possible that it does this, not because the worst is actually happening, but because it is programmed to do this when things become uncertain? Is it possible that things are actually better than your brain’s survival programs think?
… that since are reading this you likely live in the one of the most advanced nations that has ever existed on planet earth? A nation that is wealthy beyond any nation in times past, and one that is taking aggressive measures to make sure that you and everyone else you know is protected, that the economy continues to operate smoothly, and that life as you know it basically returns to normal as soon as possible!
…that it is likely that you are extremely healthy by relative standards, that you regularly eat good nutritious foods, that you have love in your life, and that you have many blessings that pre-dispose you to a strong and healthy constitution and a nervous system that is built to keep you that way?
…that you have the brilliant ability to focus on whatever you want, whenever you want, no matter what circumstances you are in? That means that, yes, you can even choose to look for things to appreciate even now, no matter what circumstances look like. It means you can actually choose to have a positive, happy, appreciative mindset no matter what!
…that maybe it’s really going to be okay!?
Have you considered these things?
Sincerely,
Chris
Good ruminations! I love “…you got a 2-million year old organism that is built to freak out, even unnecessarily, as a survival protection…” Yeah, we do! As my grandma used to say, EGBOK… everything’s gonna be OK. You’re right… it is! It’ll look different, but it’ll be OK.
Thanks, Jan. I’m glad you got something out of the post.