We are just about getting over the pandemic. Well, sort of. It was and still is in many respects an all-out war — and now we get to watch Ukraine get beaten up by a bully. Here we go again. Crisis mode for many.
We are so connected that we get to not only watch our Ukrainian friends suffer or those who have the lasting effects of the pandemic suffer. But we get affected by it too. We are watching things unfold in real-time. This is hard.
We have been conditioned since the beginning of the internet to know instantly, about things happening miles away. And to want to know immediately.
And so we respond to things and news that assaults us every day.
Do we need to react to every crisis — and believe me there seems to be a new one every day — or do we plan and strategize how we are going to think about the crises from the get-go?
How we choose to think is the first step to deciding our future.
Should we be reactive or proactive?
The world seems volatile now. Everyone has taken the last 2 years hard. Some act out their emotions. As we can see on our devices — some are spurred to horrible acts, and some get paralyzed with fear.
There seems to be a glut of information but at the same time a glut of ignorance. A glut of good information and a glut of misinformation.
So, seeing all this I ask the question: How do we prepare for our future? How do we sift through the negative downpour?
A good strategy is to get proactive about how we think. First.
After all, our thoughts lead to our words and then actions.
Empowered thinking is thinking from a standpoint of victory.
Let me explain.
What if we know that a particular battle has been won already. Wouldnt our thoughts be different? We would be confident if we knew the victory was ours. If we know beforehand that, either way, we will win. Either in the situation or in our thinking.
Meaning, either the situation will work out. Or our thinking gets sorted.
It is easier said than done
I know, I know! We plan to respond calmly and quietly when we are triggered. But it does not end that way. Why? Because we are triggered. The very word implies the trigger on the explosive has been pulled.
But how about thinking that despite the outcome, we will be okay. And if we are not okay, we will eventually be okay.
There is a thin line between fighting the good fight to get what we want and accepting that things won’t change.
So what is the strategy?
In the case of the latter, a good strategy should be adaptive thinking. I need to change my thinking instead of trying to change the situation or person.
Getting up in the morning and having even a few minutes of quiet is essential.
Now that the weather is getting better in the wintery parts of the world, a good grounding strategy is to walk barefoot on the earth. It centers and grounds us. Five minutes is all it takes.
Seizing everything that the day has to offer is great too! Putting in a 100% — for ourselves. Our greatest competitor is our own potential after all.
Helping others
At my worst times, I have found that when I get my head outside my situation and go and help another person in crisis, it mysteriously works!
My situation either gets resolved. Or my thinking and attitude change.
Coming back to Ukraine — doing our part to help those affected by donations or help is an example. There will be many displaced families. Mobilize yourself to get involved. Think about the suffering. Do step in and help! And then see what happens.
How have crises affected your thinking in a positive way? Comment to let me know!
