We are seeing a lot more anxiety, stress and feelings of helplessness in our practice these days. Some folks have relatives in Iran or Lebanon, some have jobs where they have to monitor the news, some have immigration statuses that keep changing, others just dread turning on the TV in the morning.
When violence spreads, uncertainty balloons, and our ability to control what affects us seems to be cratering, it’s very natural that anxiety will spike. It is not pathological anxiety that we’re seeing right now, it’s normal. Bad things are happening, you should not take it calmly.
But not taking it calmly doesn’t mean running around trying to do something, and feeling guilty for not solving the problem. It’s too big for any one person to control. What we all need to concentrate on is our sense of self-efficacy. There are things we can do that help, and there are things that don’t help. For example, constant checking of news feeds, or trying to contact people may make us feel like we are helping, but these actions don’t actually make a difference to the people we want to help.
What is my responsibility here?
We would all like to be heroes and saviors in the world, especially for people we love, but that is not necessarily what we can or should be focusing on. There are actions we can take that may seem symbolic, but that make us participants in the world, not just passive victims. Here are some:
- Support organizations that are working to help people in danger, eg the Red Cross/Red Crescent, etc.
- Keep healthy and maintain healthy practices; exercise routines, sleep patterns, and diet. Getting sick will not help others in need.
- Refrain from constantly “checking in”. It may make you feel like you’re doing something, but it may not have any real effect.
- When you are in contact with loved ones, focus on sending reassurance, not on asking them to reassure you.
- Meditation and prayer are real interventions, for yourself and for the world.
- Be ready to act if there is something you can do later on.
How do we handle things when the world goes crazy? Maintain circadian rhythms and healthy practices. Reach out to our immediate neighbors, and strengthen local networks of support and care. Send good vibes and strong thoughts to distant or unreachable loved ones. Make plans for the future, and have hope.
Healthy people, healthy communities, and a healthy world are built on small actions and small steps. We are not helpless!