Navigating Life’s Uncertainties
What can you do when what you want most lies beyond your control? Uncertainty surrounds us constantly, appearing in both small daily challenges and life-altering circumstances. Today, I'd like to share four powerful tools that can help you manage difficult emotions and build resilience when facing life's unpredictable moments. While this list isn't comprehensive, these accessible practices can have a profound impact on your well-being, even though they might appear deceptively simple at first glance.
1. Focus on what you can control
It's easy to see the problems in the world. The news, our social media feeds, and conversations with co-workers, family, and friends highlight all the trouble around us. It's tempting to get sucked into focusing all of our attention on things that we can't do anything about. While it is important to stay informed, we want to use our best energy to focus on what we are able to do.
When confronted with challenging situations, I encourage you to ask yourself, "What does this mean for me?" Dialing back to see how you can act not only reduces worry but will also empower you. Sometimes, answering that question may be extremely difficult, which may mean that what you need most is to take time to care for yourself and refocus on things that are more within your sphere of influence.
2. Cultivate gratitude
Gratitude is a powerful tool to aid with perspective. This does not mean that we walk around trying to turn everything negative into a positive. Gratitude enables us to not forget that in the face of every challenge, there is also something wonderful happening in my life at the same time. These things can often go unnoticed. Bringing them into view helps us see our lives in full instead of just in light of the challenges. Additionally, there are several health benefits (lower anxiety, improved sleep, reduced pain, strengthened immune system) and we all could use some of that.
3. Live your values
When life gets uncertain, we can falter in the ways we want to show up in the world. It's tempting to be reactive without considering how to react in ways that align with our values. Take a moment to reflect on your personal values and how you want those to show up in your life. Carry those values with you as you walk in unknown territory or are confronted with situations that you have never imagined before. Those values will inform how you react and how you care for yourself. Don't let fear keep you from accessing those traits and ways of being that are most important to who you are and who you want to become.
4. Build Community
It will be important for you to surround yourself with people who can support you. We were not meant to face life alone. However, when life is challenging we often find it easier to withdraw from others because it can feel painful to talk about the things that are hurting us the most. I encourage you to reach out to people you trust to share how you are experiencing the world. I would go one step further and suggest that you learn skills to have difficult conversations healthily. Improving interpersonal effectiveness allows us to grow our community, which is essential to our well-being.
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Hold fast to dreams
For if dreams die
Life is a broken-winged bird
That cannot fly.
Hold fast to dreams
For when dreams go
Life is a barren field
Frozen with snow.
~ "Dreams" by Langston Hughes