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Staying Calm in Uncertain Financial Times
In the recent movie remake, "Journey to the Center of the Earth," there is a scene where the characters fall a long, long, long way. At first they scream. Then, somewhere mid-fall, realizing they have not yet hit bottom, they stop screaming. This is what many people seem to be experiencing now in response to the economic crisis.
It's as if we expected a repeat of the great depression, imagining runs on the banks and people waiting in line at soup kitchens the day after President Bush announced the gravity of the problem. Then, the next day, we all woke up and life continued as it had. "I'll just keep going to work and buying groceries until someone tells me to stop," my friend Annette says.
So we're waiting. We're waiting to see what will happen as a result of the volatile economy, the global unrest, deep divides among and between nations, and the divides right here at home - exemplified and heightened by the upcoming presidential election.
Often the scariest things is not knowing what will happen next. And right now, no one knows what will happen next. Still, worrying isn't the answer. Worry works when it motivates you to action. When you're not sure what action to take, worry doesn't help.
What's more, living in a state of constant anxiety is not healthy. Our bodies are designed for short bursts of anxiety that help up move from danger to safety. Chronic, long-term anxiety depletes our energy, places stress on our organs, and weakens our immune system. It makes us cranky and easily upset.
So how should we cope with the uncertainty of the world right now?
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Stay in the present. What is happening in your life right now? Even if you've lost money in the stock market or your house value has dropped, you may still be okay. Again, we don't know what will happen in the future. As long as you weren't planning to sell those stocks or sell your home in the near future, you may be able to wait out the storm.
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Don't catastrophize. This doesn't mean you should become a Polyanna. Stay focused on reality - not the what-ifs. Often, our own thoughts scare us more than what's happening in the world. A friend recently shared that she has been running around the house, turning off lights - even when family members are using them! While it's good to save electricity - for financial reasons as well as environmental ones - it's important to remain calm and assess what is needed in each situation.
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Connect with others who help you feel calmer. Most of us have someone who is good at soothing us. It may be a best friend, a spouse, a sibling. Share your worries and ask for reassurance. The people who know us best may know that we are more resourceful and capable than we feel. They may be good at helping us see all that we do have. And they may help us feel better, just by knowing we are not alone.
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Seek community. This may be in a church or synagogue, your book group, or a professional or volunteer organization. Being with others, sharing time, making each other laugh, helps us realize that human beings are resilient. We may not have all the answers, but it's good to know that there are others willing to work shoulder-to-shoulder with you to make the world a better place.
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Give. Whether it's time or money, giving is a good way to remind yourself that you have more than enough. It feels good to know you are of value. And when you give, you release endorphins in yourself as well as those on the receiving end.
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Volunteer. This particular form of giving creates opportunities that you can't imagine. Initially it may be the opportunity to help others, but in time you may discover that volunteering allows you to try out new skills, even a new career path. In volunteering, you may meet your next employer or just the right person to assist you with a project you've wanted to accomplish.
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Turn of the news. TV and radio news are particularly troublesome when it comes to feeling calm. Stay informed by glancing at headlines on the internet or the paper if you must. But limit your news intake. Remember that news agencies make more money when there is bad news to report. They spin stories to capitalize on our fear and anxiety. They use music and visual aids to keep us engaged - but those tools end up creating more stress and anxiety for many of us.
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Slow down. Rushing gives our bodies and brains the signal that there is urgency - another cause of anxiety. Drive slower. You'll catch up to everyone at the next light and probably save some gas. Practice moving through your activities in a mindful way, noticing your environment as well as your internal reactions.
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Breathe. Take long, slow deep breaths to tell your nervous system that everything is okay. Play with your breath. How deep a breath can to take? What does it feel like to hold your breath for a few seconds or make your exhalations longer than you inhalations?
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Meditate or Pray. Practice clearing your mind or focusing on one thing - something neutral or uplifting. Even if you are not religious, it may feel good to practice gratitude. Make a mental list of all you are grateful for. It may also feel good to wish kindness and wellbeing for yourself. Sit for 5 minutes or so and just repeat, "May I be well and at peace." See if you start to feel calmer. If it would feel good, extend your well wishes to others you care about.
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Don't beat yourself up. You're doing the best you can under difficult circumstances. If you could do better you would. You deserve and need your own compassion, especially when life is hard. It's okay, even if you make mistakes. We're all just winging it - learning as we go. When you know more, you'll do better.
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Assume the best. I know, if you assume the worst, you won't be disappointed. But you may accidentally create a self-fulfilling prophecy, bringing about the very thing you're dreading. Assume that most people want to be helpful and kind. When they're not, it's often because they are anxious or afraid and need your understanding and patience. Assume that things will turn around. If we look back historically, they always do. Sometimes, the best thing you can do is just wait. And while you're waiting, practice these steps so the waiting is easier.
We can't predict the future, but we can remind ourselves that we can handle whatever comes up. We are strong and resilient. We're even more resilient when we come together in kindness and compassion.
Developing kindness and compassion for yourself is the foundation for security. When you know you can count on yourself, that you will always be on your own side, everything else gets a little easier.
When you can offer yourself the safety of compassion and acceptance, then you can offer it to others and become a safe person that they can trust and count on. Imagine if each of us made this a goal, how different the world might be.
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