Social Distancing

Social Distancing - who is not going to know this term for years to come. Also Coronavirus and Covid19. These are words and terms that we cannot get away from. Whether you turn on your TV or your radio, or look at social media, or your email, or even go for a ride past any businesses, you cannot avoid seeing these terms. It’s what meaning you give to them is important.

We cannot help but have fear related to these words. It’s good to have some amount of fear to make sure you protect yourself, take this seriously. A healthy fear of this disease is good - wash often and keep your distance. But fear of uncertainty is useless and I know that is the fear that most of us are dealing with. If you cannot control something and you have no idea what may happen, does it help for you to worry about it to the point that you cannot cope, cannot help yourself or others. Of course not.

Being brave isn't the absence of fear. Being Brave is having that fear but finding a way through it. - Bear Grylls

So what to do if you are spinning out of control with worry? First off, breathe. Yes, pause often and take time to purposely breathe slow and deep. Breathe in deep into your stomach and breathe out slowly and completely. Some people call this a 4x8 breath, meaning that you breathe in for a count of 4 and out for a count of 8. I’ll just suggest that you breathe out for twice as long as you breathe in. Do this for about 8 or 10 breaths, nice and slow. You’ll find that your state of mind has calmed.

Second, distract yourself by helping others or at least thinking about what you might do to help others. The distraction itself will help break the pattern of worry and thinking or doing something positive like helping others will help overrun the negativity going on in your mind.

If you are one that is constantly worrying or in fear, shut off the TV and get off of any negative media. Listen to good music, read a good book, or start journaling. Start filling your mind with things that have nothing to do with the virus outbreak (unless it is about people helping others).

Fear is the brain's way of telling you that there is something to overcome. -Anonymous

The old, worn-out axiom of “This too shall pass.” is really applicable here. We will get over this. We will come out on the other side. How you will land on the other side will be, in part, determined by how well you deal with the fear and anxiety. Perhaps you don’t give the Coronavirus a meaning of “the worst thing that ever happened to us.” Perhaps it will be “a tragic and deadly disease that we came together and defeated, showing the world that it can handle any crisis when people work together.” Wouldn’t that be a great meaning?

As I was walking yesterday, it occurred to me that if people can come together, find a way to slow or even stop something as deadly as this virus (I know we are not quite there yet but we will be), we may be able to tackle any problem, no matter how big. Then Global Warming came to mind. Now, I am not an impassioned advocate on either side but I do realize that we are in some sort of pattern of warming that we have never been in, and it seems to be on a path that could be tragic. Think of what we could do if we took some hard choices that might slow or even stop this if it is in our power. Global Warming is not the only problem the world faces. There are many more, that when we look at them as global issues, we could tackle them globally as well and get everyone on board. (Maybe I am too optimistic but I bring the tartar sauce with me when I go fishing.)

Today as I was walking, thinking pensively about things going on in the world, everyone looked at me as I passed (from a legit social distance) and smiled. I smiled back. It felt good. Perhaps there is hope for a better world.

Kevin Martin is an author, speaker, coach, and hypnotherapist. To find out more about Kevin and his coaching services, go to www.poseffects.com or https://www.dhirubhai.net/in/kevin-martin-b2b23b1/