Staying Positive Despite Turmoil
With the COVID-19 pandemic occupying a sizeable portion of our focus, the idea of thinking positively seems a lost cause (if not impossible).
The mental and emotional impact of the pandemic, however, is beyond a scope I want to address in a quaint blog. But there are components to thinking positively, utilized when things are looking even worse. You can think positively (or try to) amidst everyday turmoil. So, from that perspective (the chaos of daily life—before/without COVID-19) …
Life’s Not a Beach
Follow this ‘turmoil-is-life’ type scenario: from the new assignment at work giving you a headache, to the argument with your partner still unresolved, to the bill that’s due with no immediate way to pay to, well, you can pile on life’s other not-nice surprises respectively.
Okay. So, everything you’ve tried lately, in trying to balance life’s wrongs, has backfired. Very little has gone according to plan. The stress seems mountainous and unending. You’re at the end of your rope, having no idea what it’ll take to make things right. You’d like a glimmer of good news for a change. Pissed with the world, you’re not interested in people telling you to think positively. If anything, you’re positive harm will come to them—if they don’t get out of your face.
Given the consensus of all the self-help gurus, both on the web and not, you realize you have to find some way to be optimistic. But faced with such a bleak scenario (which doesn’t seem to be improving), how is that possible?
Finding the Bright Side
Truth is, even in the grimmest situations, you can still keep a bright side in focus, think positively. It’s not something straightforward or easy, or even something you’ll even feel like doing if you’re in a cycle of despair. But let’s look at some ways to manage thinking positively despite it all.
First, separate the problem from the person (you). Understand, you’re special and all, but, as the saying goes: life happens—these problems could’ve happened with anyone (and probably has on some level). You’re the center of your universe but not the universe. Remember, everyone has limitations, whether mental, physical, social, financial.
With all that’s happening around you, creating personal havoc and unsettledness making you stressed, you are certainly in the wrong place at the wrong time. And, as misery loves company, know that others are suffering, too—in their respective way. While no one is suggesting reveling in another’s unhappiness, realizing the universality of life’s challenges, makes things seem less daunting, damaging.
Using Rose-colored … Bifocals
After drawing some positivity from realizing you aren’t alone, next, try and analyze the specifics of what went wrong, taking a look at any precipitating factors. Analyzing doesn’t mean dwelling on all the negative. As you ponder the things leading up to your circumstances, things continuing to contribute, a picture slowly emerges. You begin to see areas where action is possible to begin solving the problem(s) you’re facing. Again, we’re talking the everyday stuff seeming too much—not major challenges unforeseen or beyond your control (as with COVID-19).
Finding Room for Improvement
When you’re navigating a rough period, however difficult, the key rests with the resolution, the steps you’ve identified to help solve the problem(s). Understanding how to improve your situation, creates a sense of optimism—all hope is not lost. With a solution at hand (or several solutions), and a bit of optimism beginning to bubble, you’re equipped for turmoil reduction.
Stay focused on achieving results. Levels of depression and frustration over what’s happening is understandable and expected, but remaining in a fog of depression and blame, brooding over coulda-woulda-shouldas, isn’t beneficial. Alternatively, working those steps for resolution and turmoil reduction while embracing the correlating optimism, can work wonders, because you’re distracted from the negative, in a good way.
Keep on Truckin’ …
Lastly, remember: life moves on. Very little in the world is worth sitting and brooding over. You may have people in your corner, empathizing and sympathizing, providing emotional support. But that support may wane if you’re not showing signs of proactivity and resilience, presenting less gloom-and-doom. Losing such support would only aggravate matters. You shouldn’t suppress your disappointment and frustration—just don’t live in it.
There’s some truth to the power of positive thinking, so accept its power and implement it daily. The contagious mindset will keep you moving forward and beyond the turmoil.
Until next time, stay serif.
