Whatever emotion you have, sit with it and recognise it, identify where it comes from. Don’t just brush the emotion, as difficult as it may be, under the carpet. Emotional wellness refers to our ability to handle life’s stresses well, adapt to change and difficult times.
“The best way out is always through.” – Robert Frost
Tough Times
The COVID 19 pandemic is stretching our emotional wellness. During this time our psychological needs of “certainty” or “safety and security” are challenged. It is NORMAL to feel lower than usual, have difficult, even negative emotions.
You may be challenged with
- Being socially isolated – loneliness
- Living on top of each other, not having your own space – frustration
- Working in frontline – tiredness
- Retrenchment or loss of income – anxiety or fear
- Getting severely sick and/or losing a loved one – anger or sadness
This totally sucks! But difficult emotions are part of life. The secret is to have the ability to cope, to know how to handle the life’s stresses.
So – How to Handle Difficult Emotions?
For example your might have anxiety as present emotion – feeling anxious about uncertain future. You might be working harder than ever but uncertain of the future funding for the program. You might be between the contracts, living in limbo. Your health might be at risk while working on the frontlines.
In these above cases your psychological need of safety and security is not been met. And hence your approach should be to focus on what is in your control: “I can’t be certain about the future, but I can make best out of today within my circumstances. I will take first class care of myself.” Taking first class care of oneself might mean booking an appointment with therapist, eating healthy meals, going for a walk or something else.
Another difficult emotion present might be loneliness. “I have not been in proper contact with my loved ones, my need for connection is not been met.” In this situation your approach should be: “I can keep regular contact over WhatsApp. I do what is in my control to boost love and connection in my life.”
Emotions are related to your thoughts. So, the secret to happiness and calmness is in managing your thoughts. This means that you should intentionally identify positive things in your life and keep them in your thoughts. Try to see your glass half full instead of half empty!
Should you be feeling extremely low, please reach out for mental health support. Do not let yourself go spiralling down.
Recognice Positive Emotions Too
Maybe you have gone through the adaptation process and are doing rather well. Maybe you have achieved a lot in 2020 despite all the challenges. Maybe you have one of the following emotions present.
- Calm – Taking it easy, day by day while supporting others too
- Content – Using this time wisely
- Happy – Enjoying time with loved ones
- Proud – Nailing it
Same technique applies. First recognise the emotion. Then identify where it comes from. – Why are you so content right now? – Maybe you are nailing it in keeping everything together. Enjoy. Celebrate your success!
Pauliina Mapatha has twenty years of experience in both the government and non-profit sectors and is a certified life coach. She established her own consultancy company in 2006 and has found her passion for supporting individuals and organisations with change, transformation and wellness.
To contact coach Pauliina click here.
