Global crisis – not on my watch?

Of course it is also affecting me – no one can escape the mood and the effects of the current political activities worldwide! Nevertheless, I can do a few exercises myself to make sure I don’t go crazy in the process…

Do not feed the demon – stay grounded

YES, the war in Ukraine is still not over, prices continue to rise, our recently elected government has approved a billion-dollar debt package despite promises to the contrary during the election. And now the American government is also raising tariffs, which will inevitably affect our exports and put our economy under pressure. BUT none of this is within my sphere of influence – I have no control over any of that! So what can I do, what do I have control over? There is more than I realize at first:

What I can control is what I do, my actions. So do I have to listen to or watch this frightening news umpteen times a day? Do I have to leave the radio or TV on and constantly listen to the ominous forecasts of the economic experts? Do I have to surrender to my own circling thoughts that spiral me deeper and deeper into the abyss: “You’ll lose your job, no longer be able to afford your car, pay for your apartment, go on vacation…”

Control over my actions

NO, I don’t have to! I can turn off the radio and TV and reduce the information to once or twice a day. I can consider what needs to be done specifically right now and concentrate on doing it with full attention. A Buddhist saying goes, “When you are angry (or sad, afraid…), clean the toilet thoroughly.” It really works! So when I feel the panic attack coming on, something I can’t control either, I still get myself to do the dishes, mow the lawn, clean the windows, the car or even the toilet. Then I notice how this diffuse, threatening fear moves at least a little into the background and sometimes even disappears completely. What I notice is that the more often I use this “tactic”, the easier it is for me to take the overwhelming power from the demon fear. More and more often, I can use my energy productively again.

Of course there are also things I can do specifically about the state of the world at the moment. There are many possibilities. Depending on what is important to me, I can, for example, refrain from buying certain goods as a form of protest, can donate money to support someone who is active in my cause, can talk openly with people about my fears… What is important is that I remain constructively and do not fall into the general accusing whining. It is so easy to blame “those up there” for everything, but in doing so I put myself in the role of the helpless victim. And I don’t want to be that, and I’m not – nobody is!

Seek an anchor – find contentment

Life goes on, regardless of whether I panic, freeze with fear, or complain endlessly about my fate. It becomes more bearable for me if I focus on something beautiful at least once a day. Preferably something that is constant and that I can turn to at any time, like an anchor. For me, that’s nature. It offers so much that makes me happy, that amazes me, that opens my heart! Just seeing a dandelion pushing its way up through a paved sidewalk is enough – its strength to defy even concrete gives me courage and distracts me.

And here, too, I notice that the more I put this into practice – now even several times a day – the more contentment arises in me. NO, the fear is not really gone. It has a good reason to pursue me, to be my constant companion. After all, the world situation is threatening and my own safety and my standard of living are also at risk. BUT it no longer determines my life, no longer oppresses me, and I can live with it…

Give Up the Struggle Within

Of course, despite everything, there are times when none of these tactics work for long and the demon of fear demands its place. At the latest when I watch the news in the evening, it creeps up again, causes a queasy feeling in my stomach, a slight nausea, occasionally makes me tremble and can even bring sweat to my brow.

The world is in crisis – and so am I! And yet it always helps me to know the simplest basic rules of being human: fear, anger, grief, suffering are part of life. Energy follows attention, so the more I resist negative feelings, the more I hold on to them. If I give up the inner struggle and concentrate on what I can control (see above), my life won’t get any easier, but I will become more peaceful.

If you would like to learn more about these tactics for coping with life, please feel free to browse our homepage. The page “Range” is certainly helpful, where the individual methods are described . With this in mind, I hope for both you and me that we learn to bear what the world offers us with dignity and contentment – for better or for worse😊

PS: I am very happy that you have taken the time to read this article so far. I would love for you to let me know what you think about it. You are welcome to contact me by e-mail or simply leave a comment – thank you in advance!