Table of Contents
Introduction:
However, we are all struggling in our own ways. Many of my friends, family members, and students are telling me (and I’m feeling it myself) that simply surviving and performing simple chores that we used to take for granted takes a lot more work and mental preparation.
I’m not going to enumerate all of the reasons why life is now difficult, hectic, and overwhelming. Of course, present pressures have a disproportionate influence on certain people (Black folks, folks that misplaced a cherished one to COVID or the weather disasters, the ones suffering financially, the ones trying full-time paintings and full-time coaching their kids).
During this time of fear and uncertainty, here are a few ways to give yourself a huge hug:
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Make a list of what you have control over and what you don’t:
Our minds are wired to focus on things we can’t control, but when we can’t control something and focus on it nevertheless, it causes even more worry and pessimism. Instead, make a list of what you have no control over, then write a list of what you do have control over (your breath, your boundaries, reaching out to loved ones), and try to focus on those things instead.
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Have anything to anticipate:
It’s possible that many, if not all, of your big plans for this year, have been cancelled or postponed. Having an enjoyable, relaxing, or community-building activity to look forward to is always good for our mental health, according to psychology, especially right now. Don’t overlook the little things, such as Christmas decorations, baking your favourite in-depth fall-baked item, or having a weekly phone call with a buddy.
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Every day, do one thing that will help you be more present:
Meditation is difficult right now, even for Dan Harris, host of Ten-Percent Happier. While your regular meditation practices may have become stalled since March, find strategies to help you feel present each day to give your mind a break. This might include things like laughing with a buddy, doing yoga, watching The Office, or cooking using all five senses.
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Give yourself a Shabbat once a week:
People are supposed to pause, relax, laugh with loved ones, and spend time in nature from Friday at dusk until Saturday at sundown, according to Jewish custom. This full day serves as a warm-up for a busy week ahead. Find periods during the week when you can do this habit, whether it’s for an entire day, a few hours, or 15 minutes each morning.
Don’t worry alone:
Most, if not all, of the individuals in your life, are likely to be overwhelmed, nervous, tired, or any other emotion that comes to mind. You don’t have to bear the burden of your emotions alone. Reach out to friends, invest in yourself by seeing a therapist, and schedule time with coworkers to chat about topics other than work. Most individuals in your life will be able to connect to you if you’re going through a difficult moment and will be able to provide you with affirmation and support.
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Convert your fear into action:
With everything going on, it’s easy to descend into a sense of pessimism. The PERMA well-being model of positive psychology, on the other hand, proposes that meaning-making and successes make us feel better and more in control. Joining a climate justice movement, sending letters to silenced voters, or donating food to a local food bank are just a few examples of how we may convert our fear into something beneficial.
Life is difficult right now, and all we can ask is that you do whatever it takes to get through it. I’d want to gently remind you that it’s OK (and perfectly normal) if you’re not as productive, cheerful, or tranquil as you once were.
Why is life so difficult? Because we are human beings with feelings, wants, needs, and anxieties:
We all have bodies that are prone to illness and damage. To survive, we require food, shelter, and human contact. We spend our entire lives trying to meet these wants. However, our appraisal of our requirements is sometimes influenced by the opinions of those around us. We measure our happiness in terms of other people’s happiness.
We determine that we require the same amount of money as our neighbours, friends, and relatives. Based on what we see on social media and television, we estimate the size of our home, our money balances, the quality of our relationship, and our health. Everyone on social media appears to be in a good relationship, to be in excellent health or to have discovered a miracle treatment and to be making a lot of money online.
Life becomes simpler when we concentrate on the good. Life is difficult when we focus on feeling alone, being alone, and all we need:
We attract more love into our life when we are grateful for the love we already have. We may be sick, but we are far from alone. We may be short on cash, but we are surrounded by love. We may be lonely, but we may seek out and form bonds with others. We have choices, which makes life easier.
Indeed, it is frequently the fight that provides us with a sense of worth, strength, and amazement. The majority of truly valuable possessions are a bit of a challenge to obtain. A college diploma necessitates hard labour. Marriage is a labour of love. When we pay attention to our body and, certainly, work on being healthy, our health improves. Humans sometimes require conflict in order to grow and live healthily.
Because societal constructions such as marketing, social media, and politics change at breakneck speed, life is difficult:
Many college students are unaware that they are majoring in degrees that would limit their employment, and as a result, many will be unable to obtain a house loan owing to excessive student loan debt. It’s a never-ending circle. If one chooses to be an entrepreneur, it might take a decade or more to achieve significant success.
In all of its brilliance, our country works against us (overmedicating children) when it should be working for us (capitalism). Life can be gruelling unless a group of people, such as a husband and wife, a mother and her child, or a group of siblings, has a meeting of the minds focused in one direction for the achievement of a common goal that will benefit the evolution of the whole because everyone is on a different page without focused support. There is more power in numbers than there is in attempting to construct anything on your own.
Also read: Tips to improve working memory in online classes
FAQs:
1: What is it about my life that makes it so difficult?
Ans: We put our happiness in the hands of others: When we put our happiness in the hands of others, life is always challenging since human beings might disappoint us at any time. We have a tendency to trust friends, spouses, and other close individuals, and this trust leads to a level of dependency on them.
2: What factors determine whether or not a life is worthwhile?
Ans: Similarly, meaningful relationships, productive employment, comfortable conditions, and fun hobbies are all inherently valued items that considerably contribute to making life worth living, but their absence reduces the quality of life.
3: Is life ever going to get any easier?
Ans: A recent study claims that there is a moment at which life becomes EASIER. And that point is 44 years old. Individuals in their 20s are stressed about things like getting a job, saving money, and dating, while people in their 30s are stressed about things like going forward in a profession and raising a family, according to the survey.
