I–n Others’ Uncertain Times, Tend to the Children First and Your Inner Child by Jody Johnston Pawel, LSW, CFLE In times of change and uncertainty, it’s natural for adults and children to feel anxious. We hear clichés that are supposed to make us feel better, like “We’re in this together” and “Be positive!” When faced with many competing challenges and a lack of control and options, it’s hard to flip on a positivity switch. We can, however, choose to use this experience to learn helpful thoughts and behaviors that will not just get us through this crisis, but build resilience, so we can thrive through these times instead of merely surviving them. Here are some tips for some internal mindsets and external skills to develop that will empower you to get through whatever may happen, with 12
less anxiety, more hope, and a greater sense of balance. First, Embrace Change It’s pointless to resist change; it is inevitable. Instead, embrace change as an opportunity to learn and grow. It’s a challenge to do that when you are experiencing many sudden and unexpected changes and transitions at once, like working from home, having children or spouses home all day, being a full-time parent, being responsible for being your child’s teacher, losing a job or income, and more. Any one of these is a challenging transition and many of us are experiencing several or many Apr / May 2020
