fearful woman looking out window

How to Keep Calm and Carry On

Life is uncertain. We know that. What we don’t want to admit is how quickly uncertainty can morph into fear, worry, and all-out panic.

Waking this morning to the reality of national unrest on top of a global conflict brings even more new meaning to uncertainty. In all of this, we’re supposed to keep calm? Carry on? Nice words, but how?

fearful woman looking out window

Fear is the enemy

Fear leads to stress. And stress leads to the breakdown of mental and physical health.

Fear skews our common sense, clouding our decision-making. Unfounded fears lead us to do and believe really dumb things.

Fear can so easily lead to depression as we rehearse over and over in our minds every possible thing that could happen. Fear and greed are very close cousins. Together, they can lead to panic, and that leads to no good!

Gratitude is the antidote

Gratitude, the conscious and heartfelt expression of appreciation and thankfulness, is the number-one best antidote for dissatisfaction, fear, and greed.

Greed says I must have more (are you thinking what I’m thinking—toilet paper!); gratitude counters with I have more than enough. Greed says the world is coming to an end; gratitude says I am so blessed. Greed steals joy; gratitude restores joy.

To develop gratitude, you need to talk to yourself and regularly write your thoughts. The idea is to begin to see all of life, including the difficult times, as challenges, opportunities, and blessings. I find it helpful to “reframe” a situation—to choose to see it from a new perspective.

Reframe the situation

Reframing can be difficult but is especially important when misfortune strikes. If you wreck your car, that is unfortunate. Still, it means you’re alive, and that is something for which to be grateful. And you get bonus reasons for gratitude if no one was hurt, you have a good insurance policy, or the car wasn’t totaled.

Authentic and heartfelt gratitude can hush up fear, insatiable desires, and negative attitudes.

For instance, you can hate your job, hate the boss, hate the people, hate the commute, and hate the work. Or, you can be genuinely grateful that you have a job.

You can learn to appreciate everything about that job, even the distasteful aspects because they build your character, tolerance, and compassion.

No matter what the situation, you choose your focus. If you choose fear, anger, panic—expect depression and misery. If you choose to respond with a grateful heart, expect hope, satisfaction, and joy. Yes joy, even in the midst of a global pandemic.

Make a list

Earlier this morning, I jotted down ten things I am grateful for today—right now, in the midst of so much uncertainty. Number one on my list? My certainty that God is in control. Right there, that calms my fears. Why should I worry?

The list includes my healthy family, KingSoopers is experiencing no shortages (I can order groceries online with easy drive-thru pick-up), grandson Eli has recovered from the final surgery following his ruptured appendix, and just finished his last doctor appointment.

I finished my list quickly and easily (you’re on it right there at #6) . With each entry, I could feel my spirits lift and a refreshing calm rush over me. We’re safe; it’s a beautiful day—and I’m ready to take on whatever lies ahead.

Your turn

Here’s my idea:  Stop what you’re doing and write down the  things for which you are grateful. But don’t stop there! Share your list in the comments below. How wonderful that we are so easily connected by technology (that’s on my list, too!)

Together, we will keep calm and carry on!

A desk with a laptop computer sitting on top of a table

 

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30 replies
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  1. Denise says:

    My children–they’ve grown up from good kids to great adults (in spite of my)
    My husband
    I retired from a job I didn’t like!
    But I got a new one I do like!

    Reply
  2. Csandst1 says:

    God
    Family
    Our health
    My teenage kids like talking to me
    Thumbs 🙂
    Enough food
    Our house
    Colors
    Clean water
    We’re warm
    We’ve been able to pay our bills even though we’ve had no income for 3 years

    Reply
  3. Cally Ross says:

    Lately I’ve been reminding myself that no matter who’s in the White House, Jesus is in my house and still on His throne. I’m just visiting this world, my home is in heaven. 🙂
    we have so much to be thankful for! I’ve been reading about the persecuted church in other countries- quite eye-opening!
    I appreciate my healthy children/grandchildren, my husband of 38 years, my home, my job, my church family… I could go on and on!

    Reply
  4. Jenny says:

    My grateful list:
    GOD-my lifeline
    Loving family
    I am blessed with good health so I can(at 82)take care of my husband with his declining health
    Friends that lift me up when I let myself get down
    Good home with plenty of food and all I need
    Parents that taught me to love and trust God in all things
    My husband, who also loves and believes in God and was baptized at 81 years old.
    My Bible–my instruction for living
    Knowing, even through all these hard times, that God is in control
    Last, and certainly not least, for special people like you, Mary

    Reply
  5. Miriam says:

    Thankful for: That I can still attend a good church and the doors remain open (so far). That I have a Heavenly Father I can pray to whose door is always open come what may. That Jesus has promised to come back for His church, those who love Him. For the freedoms we still have, and, God willing, will continue. That I’ve remained covid free so far. For daily bread and clean water. Thank you, Lord, for ALL of this and much more.

    Reply
  6. Mandy says:

    Such a beautiful post today! I’m thankful that I can pray to God anytime and that He knows me and loves me; for family and a brand-new granddaughter that arrived on Friday, for my health and the health of my family, for the sunshine on a cold winter day, for food enough to share with others, for working vehicles that are paid for, for a home that protects me from the elements, for a cozy blanket to curl up with right now. I lost count, but thank you for helping my heart feel peace today! ❤️

    Reply
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