How (and why) to stay positive now.
As Bobby McFerrin says:
In every life we have some trouble
But when you worry you make it double
Don’t worry, be happy
Don’t worry, be happy now
I know these are crazy times right now. A few months ago, who would have predicted a pandemic so far-reaching as to effectively shut down the entire world. Well, apparently it was predicted, and not just by science fiction writers, but by scientists – and even Bill Gates. (to watch his TED talk click here: https://youtu.be/6Af6b_wyiwI)
Well, whether predicted or not, it has changed everything. Everything. From hockey and basketball, to our idea of leisure, and perhaps even more ominous than the health impact, is the impact on the economy.
A few short weeks ago I was looking forward to a week on the Mexican beach at a beautiful resort. Now I am looking forward to any time at all with other human beings (other than my husband, I see plenty of him).
But I do have a message here. PLEASE don’t give in to feelings of fear, despair, anxiety. These are even more contagious than Coronavirus – and you don’t need direct contact to spread panic and worry.
Why shouldn’t we worry? Well, if you have read any “thought literature” you will understand that the negative emotions have a lower frequency, and cause more of the same. Often, if you focus on fear, something will come along to fulfill that fear. A quote from the Master Key System:
23:2 We get exactly what we give: if we fear we get what we feared. Charles Haanel
And the flip side. To heal:
24:13 If you desire to help someone… the intention to help them is entirely sufficient… drive out of your own mind any belief of lack, limitation, disease, danger, difficulty, or whatever the trouble might be. As soon as you have done this, the result will have been accomplished. Charles Haanel
When my kids were little, I would tell them that worry is a waste of time. If there is something you can do about it (whatever you are worrying about), then do it. If there is nothing you can do about it, then let it go.
Is there something we can do about this? Yes, take the correct actions to reduce spread of the virus as much as possible: stay home, wash your hands, take care of your health. When you do go out, avoid close contact with others, wash your hands, don’t touch your face. Wash your hands, wash your hands, wash your hands.
What else can you do? If you are self-isolating and social-distancing (2 new words/concepts), you can certainly use this time productively. Learn something new, clean your house, work on a craft or a project. Do you have a home business? Now is a perfect time to work on that. Don’t have a home business? Maybe you should – what a perfect time for a ‘Plan B’ for income and productivity. (ask me if you want info on this)
There will be good that comes from this crisis. Medical breakthroughs, tales of good neighbours and bravery, lessons in planning for the future. Human beings are very adaptable. I have been enjoying the late-night talk show hosts who are now performing from their homes, with there families present.
There will be opportunities, and I don’t mean people taking undue advantage, I mean real opportunities to provide a valuable service and be rewarded for that service.
So if worry and fear are waste of time, what do we replace it with? For we must always replace a habit with another habit. I have found some words of wisdom in the book ‘The Greatest Salesman’ (which isn’t so much about sales):
Scroll 6 – Henceforth I recognize and identify the mystery of moods in all mankind, and in me. From this moment I am prepared to control whatever personality awakes in me each day. I master my moods through positive action and when I master my moods I control my destiny. Og Mandino
Here is another:
Scroll 7 – Four words I train myself to say until they become a habit so strong that immediately they appear in my mind whenever good humour threatens to depart from me. These words, passed down from the ancients, carry me through every adversity and maintain my life in balance. These four words are: This too shall pass. Og Mandino
You also know that I am a gratitude fan. There is always something to be grateful for. And remember, when you look for things to be grateful for, more things to be grateful for appear. Like magic!
My new mantra, and what I wish for all: “Love, health, hope, peace, prosperity. This too shall pass.”
Do you need a bit more encouragement to think more positively? Why not try the “Mind Shift: 7 Day Mental Diet”, you can find that over on the right, or perhaps below this post.
And to close, I offer the immortal words of The Police:
Don’t Stand so, don’t stand so, don’t stand so close to me. Sting