We all need a little mental refortification from time to time. Recurring issues, even the smallest of ones, can cause us great stress over time. The sudden yet extreme random situation that pops up can put so much stress on our minds and bodies, we sometimes just want to (and do) shut down. But we can’t do this for long. Life goes on and we have to keep on moving; our families and friends want to see us happy and energized, and we owe it to them to be this way.
We owe it to ourselves to be the best that we can be.
So how do we make this happen? Presented here are several ways to change our minds and our thinking to not just get us through life but to also enjoy it with those who enjoy us being in their lives.
Setbacks
We are all going to be faced with setbacks. An emergency trip to the hospital can cost us extra money that would’ve gone towards bills, resources that were supposed to be available for a job did not arrive until a week later, somebody else was given the promotion you were desperately needing; these can all set us back, both personally and from a work perspective, and they can all cause us stress.
The best we can do in these instances is control the situation. What can you do now to prevent further disruption? What do you need to do to get back on track? What did you learn from this issue so that you can prevent it from happening again?
Awareness
Just as they tell you to be aware of your surroundings when you are out in nature or driving on the interstates, so too must you be aware of what’s going on in life. It may not be your life per se, but things that are happening to others can — and do — happen to you.
You think you would never lose your job? Be aware that the economy drives all businesses, even the one you work for. If it goes bad, so too can your job. Being aware helps us mentally prepare for such occurrences. If we are prepared, we are less likely to focus on why it happened and instead focus on how it is going to get fixed.
Perspective
Put the issue into perspective. Whatever it is that is causing you mental anguish, is it actually something to stress over? If you work as a nanny inside of a home, taking care of someone’s child or children, you might get stressed extremely easily after a while. The insistent crying and pooping and demands from both the children and the parents can have you going home crying every day.
But that doesn’t have to be the case. Keeping everything in perspective can have you feeling better about the situation, even if the nagging and messy feedings and strict guidelines from the parents don’t disappear.
Realize that those children you nanny for are relying on you for their daily needs and that they may not have another means of communication other than crying. Understand that the parents are dictating certain things because they want the best for their children and their guidelines are what they think is best. The parents are depending on their nanny to execute their wishes.
Detachment
Do not constantly repeat the phrase “Why me?” or “How could this have happened?” over and over. More than likely the situation you are facing is because of external forces you have no control over. What you can do is take control of how you deal with it.
The issue had nothing to do with you. Take yourself out of the equation and figure out a way to rectify the situation. The worse thing you can do is dwell about a problem that you had no part in creating.
Mandy
Author: Mandy Kloppers
Mandy is a qualified therapist who treats depression, anxiety, OCD, PTSD, trauma, and many other types of mental health issues. She provides online therapy around the world for those needing support and also provides relationship counselling.
