Peace of Mind Can Be Hard to Find

We all have read the scary headlines and have heard the constant din of dismal predictions for the future. There’s swine flu, global warming, and threats of nuclear holocausts. There’s depressing statistics about the economy:  foreclosures up, layoffs and furloughs up, unemployment statistics up.

 What’s down is our net worth, our economic prospects for the future, and quite possibly our level of optimism.

So how do you keep your peace of mind when everything around you seems to be collapsing?

1. I think it was Mark Twain or possibly Will Rogers who said: “If reading the newspaper depresses you, stop reading it.” Frequently we suffer from TMI (too much information). The wisdom here is that you do have some control over how much pessimism you allow inside your mind and heart.
2. If money is a nagging worry for you, take some control of the situation. Strive to become more knowledgeable about your money situation. No head in the sand stuff! Consult with experts if you don’t have the inclination to become an expert yourself. Commit to a reasonable savings and budget plan.
3. Discover low-cost and no-cost ways to enjoy life. If economic disaster does strike, you still can find pleasure in life. Early morning walks to view the sunrise are free and life-enhancing. Sharing entrees at an inexpensive restaurant helps your budget and your waistline. Local neighborhood and county parks are delightful places for your kids to play and for adults to spread out a blanket and just relax.  I just came across a delightful quote from Lin Yu-T’ang:  “If you can spend a perfectly useless afternoon in a perfectly useless manner, you have learned how to live.”
4. Decide what is most important to you in life and start it now. This could be learning something new, polishing current skills, or rediscovering old talents. If helping others brings you joy, there are many church and community groups that would welcome your contribution.  Anything that helps reduce your negative self-preoccupation will leave you feeling more optimistic about life in general. 
5.  Cultivate warm and supportive relationships with your friends and family. In times of trouble, it is those relationships that will sustain you.
6. If the doom and gloom is getting to you, find a way to get moving physically. Exercise is a known depression fighter.  The thought of exercise can be overwhelming when you are depressed. However, if you can push yourself to move, you will be amazed at how much better you feel.  If that doesn’t help, consider seeing a professional counselor and your medical doctor.
7.  Keep an ongoing “gratitude list”. This can be an antidote to focusing on “what’s wrong.” This list can include gratitude for your own good qualities, the positive people in your life, and for the simple things of life. For example, we can be grateful that we live in an area where the sun shines most of the time!

Bottom Line:  We can choose to cultivate optimism even in difficult times. 

Judy Davidson