
There’s this feeling like we’ve been here before, and yet things are different, and it feels like they could get worse before they get better.
I’ve probably gone over the subject of anxiety in a few previous posts but I think it merits a revisit at this point in time.
The essential thing about anxiety is that it is the fear of the future.
Anytime we are feeling anxious, if we check in with ourselves, we will notice that our minds are off in the future. That future can be five months down the road or it could be five seconds down the road. Our brain has evolved to protect us and it is constantly scanning our physical and mental horizons for threats whether we are aware of it or not. We are hardwired to detect changes in our environment and to notice those that may pose a threat.
We can feel particularly jittery and anxious during times of major change going on in our environment.
Let’s say that hypothetically, there was an election in which a leader in a country that we were closely associated with decided to gaze upon our country in a manner that seemed hostile. Imagine that major changes that could potentially affect our lives and those of our loved ones were being enacted on a day to day basis and we felt somewhat powerless to do anything about it in the short term.
Under such a scenario it might be normal for us to feel a certain level of anxiety, to wonder what our future might be like, and what is going to happen to us and our country.
If such a situation were to happen, I would suggest that we bring ourselves and our minds into the present moment as there is nothing that one can do in the future as we aren’t in the possession of time machines just yet. Bringing ourselves back to the present moment may help our minds to stop spinning off into a place of overwhelm and powerlessness. If we are to make changes in our lives I would suggest that the only place that they can happen is in the present. However it would also be prudent to look ahead and try and plan for possible eventualities.
So to recap so far, I am suggesting that our anxiety is due to fear of the future. The other aspect of anxiety that would be important to note is the level of uncertainty. Anxiety always tends to go hand in hand with fear of the future and a level of uncertainty.
Now in that imagined scenario I was alluding to above there might be a tremendous amount of uncertainty. Many things could happen. Some of them might be good, or neutral, but it is the bad ones that would get most of our attention and our imaginations going. I’ve noticed that we tend to associate uncertainty with the possibility of bad things happening. But because of uncertainty it means that we live in a dynamic world and not one that is determined. Because of the dynamic nature of our world we can DO things. We can alter our trajectories and make a difference.
So anxiety = fear of the future + uncertaity.
The best way that I know of to handle uncertainty is in one of three ways:
- Take action. If there’s something you can do now then do it.
- Make a plan. Plan out what you are going to do based on your assessment of the situation and what you can do.
- Let it go. This last one is tougher than it sounds like. Often we want to let go. We have every intention of letting go but we find that things have gotten sticky. At times I will catch myself and ask myself, “Is there anything I can do?” If not immediately then is there some kind of plan that I can make? And if there is no plan that I can make then the last remaining thing to do is to let go. But HOW do you let go? I can hear you say. The best way that I know is to WANT to let go. When we want to let go it seems to activate a deep energy and willingness inside of us that begins to set about making letting go happen. It may take some time though depending on how big the issue is.
Okay, you’ve probably guessed what “hypothetical” situation I am referring to: the change of government for our neighbours to the south. The candidate and those around him ran on a platform of bringing major change to the United States. The people voted for him and change and now it is happening at a pace that we may find dizzying in the days ahead. I would suggest that we try to anchor ourselves in the present, take in the changes one at a time as best as we can, and try not to let ourselves be overwhelmed.
We have politicians and leaders whose main job is to take care of things and run our country. We must make sure to do our part and keep going, to keep moving forward. Keep waking up and going to work, providing for ourselves and our families, and doing what we can to adjust on a daily basis to the changes that will be coming our way.
We Canadians are a strong and resilient group of people. We came to a snow covered piece of land and found a way to make a home, a place that we hold dear to our hearts, created a way of life that we cherish and sets us apart on the world stage. And I for one intend to try my best to adapt and adjust to the many and varied changes that are sure to continue to come our way.
If anything, we are adaptable and adapt we shall.
#anxiety #adaptation #Canada