We live in crazy times. The news report things from all over the world, from Europe, that we hoped we would never have to experience. Fears of our grandparents, of our parents push their way into our consciousness and become our own. Very real. These fears take up a lot of space, right now. The media, the news, the hearts of our fellow human beings are full of them. In many of us, anger arises, and that helps us to take action. To help as much as we can.
ANGER IS GOOD, BECAUSE IT MOBILISES. FEAR PARALYSES US.
As a rule, fear is not the whole truth. Even the fears that are grounded in real circumstances play with possibilities rather than facts. Fear of what tomorrow might be hinders us today. Prevents us from helping, and most importantly, it prevents us from replenishing our own energies. And we must do that! The pandemic has already demanded so much of us, consumed so much energy, and already led many of us to the dark and slippery edges of our inner abysses.
THE MEDIA HAS BEEN FULL OF TIPS FOR SELF-CARE, BUILDING RESILIENCE AND SELF-COMPASSION OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
That is good. I really hope it helped you. And I hope that you have internalised what we are told again and again: Please take care of yourself first, and then help those who are in need.
Put on your own oxygen mask first, and then help your child/your father/your grandma…
Because if you break down, you cannot help anyone else, least of all yourself.
SO, TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF. BUT HOW CAN YOU DO THAT IN THIS CRAZY WORLD?
How can I think of myself when the news is full of horrors, when friends, colleagues or family are in existential distress? Well, that requires a little bit of discipline, and in some cases a change of mindset. Take care of your own well-being, only then will you be strong enough to help others. And the most important steps are so basic that even the mouse from the well-known children’s programme shares them in the media:
- Take a news break!
- Do something that makes you feel good.
- It is okay to have fun in between!
- Share your worries and fears with others.
- Write in a diary, get things out of your head in the evening.
- Seek support, e.g., from counsellors.
- And my favourite advice: Sing aloud! Because that blocks the area of your brain that is responsible for fear.
Yes, we are all worn down by the pandemic and its side effects, yes, polarised and divided, caught up in being right and self-righteous. But here is the horror raging on our doorstep. It will change our little world even more. And whether vaccinated or not, centre, right or left, we all want to see our children, godchildren and grandchildren grow up, laugh and play. So, we need to take good care of them and good care of ourselves.
No self-flagellation over past bad decisions. Make the right choices today. Get some distance from the news. Live peace, in small ways. And help where it is needed, if possible, donating for an unspecified purpose, so that what is needed can be done. And take care of your own well-being.
TAKE A BREAK NOW. PUT THAT THING AWAY. SING OUT LOUD, ANYTHING…
Suggestions? Oh, lots of them:
- „Die Gedanken sind frei, wer kann sie erraten…“
- „Give me love…“
- „Imagine all the people…“
- „One love, one heart…“
- „Look for the bare…“
- „How many roads…“
I’M SINGING WITH YOU.
Loudly, from the heart, wherever you are,
We live in crazy times. The news report things from all over the world, from Europe, that we hoped we would never have to experience. Fears of our grandparents, of our parents push their way into our consciousness and become our own. Very real. These fears take up a lot of space, right now. The media, the news, the hearts of our fellow human beings are full of them. In many of us, anger arises, and that helps us to take action. To help as much as we can.
ANGER IS GOOD, BECAUSE IT MOBILISES. FEAR PARALYSES US.
As a rule, fear is not the whole truth. Even the fears that are grounded in real circumstances play with possibilities rather than facts. Fear of what tomorrow might be hinders us today. Prevents us from helping, and most importantly, it prevents us from replenishing our own energies. And we must do that! The pandemic has already demanded so much of us, consumed so much energy, and already led many of us to the dark and slippery edges of our inner abysses.
THE MEDIA HAS BEEN FULL OF TIPS FOR SELF-CARE, BUILDING RESILIENCE AND SELF-COMPASSION OVER THE LAST TWO YEARS.
That is good. I really hope it helped you. And I hope that you have internalised what we are told again and again: Please take care of yourself first, and then help those who are in need.
Put on your own oxygen mask first, and then help your child/your father/your grandma…
Because if you break down, you cannot help anyone else, least of all yourself.
SO, TAKE GOOD CARE OF YOURSELF. BUT HOW CAN YOU DO THAT IN THIS CRAZY WORLD?
How can I think of myself when the news is full of horrors, when friends, colleagues or family are in existential distress? Well, that requires a little bit of discipline, and in some cases a change of mindset. Take care of your own well-being, only then will you be strong enough to help others. And the most important steps are so basic that even the mouse from the well-known children’s programme shares them in the media:
Yes, we are all worn down by the pandemic and its side effects, yes, polarised and divided, caught up in being right and self-righteous. But here is the horror raging on our doorstep. It will change our little world even more. And whether vaccinated or not, centre, right or left, we all want to see our children, godchildren and grandchildren grow up, laugh and play. So, we need to take good care of them and good care of ourselves.
No self-flagellation over past bad decisions. Make the right choices today. Get some distance from the news. Live peace, in small ways. And help where it is needed, if possible, donating for an unspecified purpose, so that what is needed can be done. And take care of your own well-being.
TAKE A BREAK NOW. PUT THAT THING AWAY. SING OUT LOUD, ANYTHING…
Suggestions? Oh, lots of them:
I’M SINGING WITH YOU.
Loudly, from the heart, wherever you are,