Between Covid, politics and elections, the economy and the environment, there seems to be no end to the number of things that one might be anxious about. Unfortunately, anxiety is inversely correlated with well-being: the more anxious you are, the less you will feel well.
In the last few months, I have decided to:
· stop watching the news before I go to bed,
· avoid the newspapers with their sensationalist take on everything,
· largely boycott violent or pointless movies.
Essentially, I have put myself on a diet of reduced negative or unhelpful stimuli. I have removed from my agenda matters which are beyond my control or influence to positively improve. Instead, I look for hopeful or helpful experiences which can encourage a sense of gratitude and optimism.
Letting go of so much noise certainly has made my world much lighter and more manageable. I have less concerns to worry about and feel less overwhelmed. Having fewer cares is most empowering as you become more carefree. This focuses your attention on what really matters, where to put your energy and resources and how not to get caught up in concerns beyond your control. There are about a dozen things on my agenda that I pro-actively care about and for each it is solutions, not complaints, that I concern myself with.
One of the upsides is in realising where I can make a difference. I can align my priorities with my worries. Take Covid, something on everyone’s hit-list of angsts. Are you going to get all worked up about finding a vaccine, where the next hotspot is, who isn’t wearing a mask or how we are going to pay for the consequences? Or will you sensibly, caringly, and non-judgmentally use physical distancing, wearing a mask and a smile to reduce its spread? Or the environment: how about just doing your part to reduce your eco-footprint and picking up the litter near your home?
Having fewer cares actually means caring more about your local situation. It involves thinking about how you can enact change in line with your values. It significantly improves your wellness. The calm which this optimism encourages naturally evokes gratitude, the ultimate well-being vitamin.
Physically distance (when required or helpful), never socially distance.
Reflection Source: www.Smallercup.org
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