The crisis in Ukraine is adding insult to injury for an already weary population dealing with the health crisis COVID-19. I had a client reach out to me and ask what he can do about the overwhelming anxiety he is feeling about impending doom and “existential nuclear dread.” He reported that his thoughts are running wild, he can’t concentrate at work, and “I want to think critically but I can’t seem to separate logical preparations from irresponsible overreactions.”
I can totally relate although for me the lack of snow this winter and the water crisis is what leaves me sleepless. I think of the wildlife who will not have water and what climate change is doing to our world. It all seems too much at times.
So what can we do and how can we help our clients (and ourselves). The first skill to utilize is radical acceptance. Here are a couple of short articles that might be helpful to pass on to clients:
Radical Acceptance During Difficult Times by UT Health Houston
Radical Acceptance Can Keep Emotional Pain From Turning Into Suffering by The New York Times
The second part of coping with this international distress is to focus on your corner of the universe as I have been preaching for the last two years. There have been interesting research studies on how kindness spreads and that we can make things better in our immediate lives.
Here are some inspirational articles on how we can all make a difference:
We Change the World with One Small Action at a Time by Love Revolution
In terms of Ukraine specifically, here are a couple of sites for how to help. It seems that donations are mostly what is needed.
Here’s What You Can Do to Help People in Ukraine Right Now by Time
Utah Ukrainian Association organizing rally, resources to stand with Ukraine by KSL TV
Finally, here is a little YouTube on Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) or tapping.
World news can be so overwhelming and it is easy to let it shake our sense of being and belonging. The advice all along these past few years has been to turn off the news. Here is a channel that only has good news!
Accepting that we cannot change what is happening in the big world out there is radical acceptance of things beyond our control. My favorite motto is “worrying doesn’t change the outcome.” We need to be in charge of what we can change and in our immediate environment.
- I have control over me and my body.
- I can drink more water, exercise more, sleep regular hours – all things that will make me healthier and more resilient.
- I have control over my home.
- I can turn off the lights when I am not using them, I can use less water, I can recycle – all things that help climate change.
- I have control over my actions in my neighborhood.
- I can take in my neighbor’s trash can, smile at the people across the street, pick up errant dog poop – all small acts of kindness.
These acts all help me know I am making a difference, every day. We need to acknowledge those acts in a meaningful way as well. So actually reinforcing it, rather than making it a meaningless act. So when I drink water, I say, “I am being good to my body.” When I turn off the lights, “I am helping the earth.” When I wave to the neighbor, “I am being friendly and helping spread goodness in the world.”
So let’s go out, make a difference and accept what we cannot change.
