We were unprepared for coronavirus and its sudden appearance.
Now we’re coping as it spreads like wildfire.
You’re stocking up on supplies. You might be in quarantine. Your county might even be on lockdown.
And it can all just feel so…
Overwhelming.
When you feel like you’re waist-deep in your anxiety and overwhelm…
Pause.
Take a deep breath.
And read this prayer aloud:
God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change,
courage to change the things I can,
and wisdom to know the difference.
Life is already challenging — and coronavirus has only added more complications.
The serenity prayer reminds us that we’re not powerless.
Whatever the circumstances, you always have choice. You can still create positive change in your life.
And the serenity prayer isn’t reserved strictly for those who believe in God. Whether you pray to a Higher Power — or not — the wisdom in this prayer rings true across all spiritual backgrounds.
In times of overwhelm, especially now, the serenity prayer can comfort and empower you to take action.
Finding the Serenity to Accept the Things You Cannot Change
Coronavirus has disrupted your daily life.
Non-essential businesses are closed down. Your vacation plans might be postponed. Finding basic supplies, like toilet paper and paper towels, feels like a scavenger hunt.
You want to curse at the world.
Cry at the unfairness of it all.
But ask yourself:
Is this behavior making me feel better?
Is any of this curing my frustrations or stopping coronavirus?
More often, it isn’t.
Because cursing at the sudden arrival of coronavirus is like being annoyed at the rain when you expected a sunny day.
Things just happen — whether you’re prepared for them or not.
And your first instinct is to resist. To fight against reality and dwell when things go wrong.
But sometimes the best thing you can do is accept reality and move on.
With the evolving situation around coronavirus, what more can you do except to learn, adjust, and continue living life as best you can?
Because some events are beyond your influence.
No matter what you do, you can’t stop nature from unleashing a hurricane.
Honking your horn won’t make traffic go faster.
And even if you follow all the safety precautions, you may not be 100% protected against coronavirus.
These are the things you cannot change.
The quicker you accept things that you cannot change, the faster you’re able to take action on the things you can.
Summoning the Courage to Change the Things You Can
Here’s the thing.
In the grand scheme of the universe, events are just events.
To your Higher Power — whoever created this universe — a wedding has the same significance as a breeze flowing.
They’re all just events.
It’s the humans — you and I — that assign meaning and judgments to these events.
You choose whether an event is…
Bad or good.
Lucky or unlucky.
Fair or unfair.
You assign judgments to what happens around you and react based on those judgments.
If you choose to see coronavirus as a pandemic racking up a body count as it sweeps the nation, then, of course, you’ll likely feel deep terror and anxiety.
Yes, coronavirus is a scary event for most, that’s true. People are suffering and some countries are on lockdown to contain it.
But there’s little you can do about that.
The serenity prayer asks God to help you change the things you can.
You choose how you perceive things and how you feel about them.
Which also means that you can change your perceptions.
You can change what judgments you assign certain events.
Will you characterize coronavirus as a big scary monster that crushes your spirit?
Or can you see it as an opportunity? An opportunity to…
- Practice optimism over pessimism.
- Work on projects you didn’t previously have time for.
- Cultivate a hobby you’ve always wanted to.
- Learn a new skill that will progress your personal or professional development.
It’s easy to surrender and fall victim to your circumstances — and eventually suffer signs of burnout.
Can you, instead, summon the courage to change the things within your power?
What’s one thing within your power that you can change? What will you do today to create that change in your life?
Seeking Wisdom to Know the Difference
Positive change only starts when you understand the difference between what you can change and what you cannot.
And that’s where you and so many women might get stuck.
Before coronavirus, you may have already been struggling with overwhelm. Perhaps it’s a neverending to-do list. Or maybe your life felt upended from a specific event, like a move or divorce.
And the sudden rise of coronavirus felt like the rug was pulled out from beneath you.
It’s tempting to wallow in your overwhelm. To hide and run away.
But that’s only postponing — and often worsening — the problem.
The best thing you can do is to take action.
But sometimes you don’t know where to start.
Maybe you need a little help determining your next best step moving forward.
Let me help you take that next step with my complimentary “Overcoming Overwhelm” Discovery session. In this 60-minute consultation you’ll:
- Reveal a clear and compelling vision of what else is possible for your life when you no longer have so much on your plate and are enjoying your life again
- Get simple and practical tips for how to break free from your symptoms of overwhelm
- Tap into greater energy and inspiration
- Explore how having a partner on your journey will provide a shortcut to all that you desire.
Click here now to sign up for a complimentary “Overcoming Overwhelm” Discovery session.