There are no shortage of expressions of encouragement to help people deal with hardships, “Turn defeat into victory,” “Every cloud has a silver lining,” “Setbacks pave the way to success,” to name a few. How can some people remain so optimistic when times seem so full of uncertainty and danger? After all, we all live in the same world. Why do people see the same things in very different ways? It would seem the answer is mindset.
Currently, many people are trying to manage stress caused by being in a confined space for too long, so-called cabin fever. Who can we turn to for advice on how to overcome this issue? Which group of people deal with a similar environment? Astronauts living in the space station deal with extreme isolation continuously for many months, so perhaps they might be able to offer some valuable insight and coping skills.
The more you know, the less you fear.
One astronaut, Chris Hadfield, said “the more you know, the less you fear.” This can certainly be applied to the current COVID-19 crisis. Since we are dealing with an unseen threat, we should learn as much as possible about it. Also, commander Hadfield and psychologists alike recommend building routines into the day, creating a “new normal”. Old routines like commuting to work, or having lunch with friends have disappeared and can make us all feel a little off balance. Since this situation is likely to continue for the foreseeable future, we should establish new routines that provide us with a sense of accomplishment every day.
It may take time to fully adjust, but remember that change is a good thing. As McDonald’s founder, Ray Kroc, famously said, “If you’re green, you’re growing.” Keeping a positive outlook while embracing change and self-discovery will lead us to a better place, and will help us see life in general from a more positive viewpoint.
Wishing you perfect health and happiness.
Mark Tofflemire
Tailor Made Inc.
Related websites:
CDC- Some good general information, a lot focused on the US, no Japanese language options
WHO- Latest global information, no Japanese language options
Chris Hadfield- A light distraction-
Take a few minutes and have a look at this unique video taken from the space station.