Nicole Soer | Your Productivity Coach
2 min
Updated: Sep 10, 2020
Quarantine has affected everyone differently. In general, I have tried to focus on the good - namely time and more intentional connections with others. One of the downsides has been… time. I had a friend who was facing a medical procedure, and I was worried. The extra time provided ample space to worry about my friend as well as contemplation of what is happening in the world to multiply. Thankfully, my friend had a good report.
If I “practice” being worried, I will get really good at worrying. In the midst of worrying, I knew that I hade to incorporate things that are important for my well-being to get out of that cycle of constant worry. Here is what worked for me
I was understandably worried about my friend. I was scared, sad, hopeful. Pinpointing these emotions helped me move through the worry. This is always the first step for me when I deal with something difficult. As Marc Brackett, the director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence says: If you can name it, you can tame it.
I took part in small-group, silent prayer. It was a gathering of ten of my friend’s friends. It was a time to pray and focus on our friend and her medical team while being mindful of social distancing and face masks.
These few days were not the time for me to stay on my computer or check Facebook or even read a self-help book. I spent time outdoors drinking my coffee, writing, gardening, listening/dancing to upbeat music, and connecting with my family.
The weekend before my friend’s procedure, I sat in a negative space. Yet, I know that these steps work for me because I have implemented them time and time again. My challenge is to implement them right away. Thankfully, I didn’t sit in the negative space for too long. And thankfully, she had the best possible outcome from her procedure.
What works for you when you are experiencing negative emotions?