Episode 9 – ‘Difficult Times’

11 May 2022

I’m going to focus on coping when things are difficult. The world is always changing constantly, it has changed for us as individuals, society and the world since the pandemic. There is also the challenge of managing yourself when there are traumas for others and when it is out of our control. 

In our internal worlds, we are affected by the external world. We affect our outcomes. The things that come from inside of us and determine our body’s ability to respond to, and deal with, the external stress-inducing factors or stressors: 

  • Attitudes, Thoughts, behaviours 
  • Emotional well-being – the impact of feelings of anger, fear and worry 
  • How we manage Anticipation 
  • Memory and how the mind works 
  • The impact of looking after yourself – your physical health – the amount of sleep and rest you get, the food you eat, exercise etc 

We also spend time focusing on relationships with others, although the biggest gem is working on the relationship you have with yourself.  

Recently I have been hearing quite a lot of clients and friends who have been talking about the horrendous situation for the people of Ukraine and how helpless they feel. This is an incredibly difficult situation to manage when much of it is out of our control.  In this show we will spend time thinking about how we cope ourselves when there is something awful happening elsewhere in the world. 

There are times in everyone’s life when we have major life changes to deal with, such as death of a loved one, divorce or relationship breakdowns, financial worries and changes in jobs, worries about children and family members. Threats to our home and everything is relative to you individually. 

We are able to look after ourselves, we are stronger and more resilient to be able to help others whether that is directly or indirectly. The challenge with this though is it can feel selfish and I think this is the challenge when others are suffering.

What is happening from a mind perspective 

The mind is an association making machine. It is constantly assessing situations through the 5 senses and it is internalising the images, sounds, feelings, tastes and smells and establishing what that means to you. What this means is it is looking for an association and while it is doing that it is assessing if it is firstly safe for us, and secondly what memories it has within to make sense for you. 

When we experience trauma, the brain shuts down all nonessential systems and activates the sympathetic nervous system and the mammalian brain. To help us survive the trauma, the brain releases stress hormones and activates the flight or fight response. 

It is important to be empathetic and kind to others. When there are so many people suffering in the world, kindness can open doors for them and for you. Being compassionate to yourself or others may bring you peace and inspire you to do more.

Click the link below to check out the toolkit mentioned in the radio show –

The Live in the Present Toolkit – Download

 

Carry out a random act of kindness, with no expectation of reward, safe in the knowledge that one day someone might do the same for you.

                                                                                                                                         – Princess Diana

 

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