I’ve been feeling very unsettled in recent days. I wanted to write a post or record a video to offer support in the face of anxiety you may also feel in response to the serious threats and actions we’re dealing with today.
I wanted to validate your feelings of grief for the loss of peace and stability we felt before U.S. government actions threatened Canada, Ukraine and other parts of the world with occupation, economic attacks, loss of aid and environmental degradation.
I wanted to check in with people I love to see how they’re feeling.
I wanted to, but I couldn’t.
Distorted thoughts may do more harm than the real situation
Sometimes we can feel overwhelmed and tell ourselves stories that aren’t true. We may adopt all-or-nothing thinking, where we see things in extremes – black and white. This is called cognitive distortion. I also fell victim to other cognitive distortions, like overgeneralization, jumping to conclusions and magnification (catastrophizing).
Here’s the problem. There are facts and actions that aren’t up for interpretation. For example, U.S.-imposed tariffs are now in force, which will have quick and direct impacts on us all. All the proposed responses from the Canadian and provincial government leaders involve further degradation of our planet, which will exacerbate climate change.
It can be hard to find hope amidst the onslaught of threats and hardships coming at us from seemingly all directions.
These thoughts and emotions aren’t typical for me – I’m usually optimistic and hopeful, so I used a Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) tool called Cognitive Restructuring to address my grief and anxiety. Simply put, Cognitive Restructuring is a set of skills and strategies used to challenge negative thoughts. This isn’t positive thinking – it’s about finding a balanced way in which to challenge our thoughts. If we can do this, we can often lower the intensity of our negative emotions.
I’m going to share what I came away with that gave me a little hope. It’s my wish that you’ll feel more hopeful, too.
Challenge your distortions to avoid drowning in grief and hopelessness
Here’s my cognitive distortion: Our individual efforts won’t make any difference when there’s so much working against us (jumping to conclusions).
Challenge thought: I don’t know what we’re going to do, but we’re going to do something.
Just as one powerful person can create international chaos, we have the individual power to bring calm and stability to our own life and to the lives of those we touch. Collectively, we can stand against cruelty, injustice, lies and other assaults on our values and way of life. Collectively, we can advocate and act for our planet, our sovereignty, our livelihoods and other things we hold dear.
Challenge thought: I can either try to solve the problem or take a break from trying to solve the problem.
I’ll continue my efforts to soften my footprint on this planet. I’ll also take time for pleasurable pursuits that enrich my life and the lives I touch. I must take care of myself.
Challenge thought: While I don’t want the current situation to be real, I can’t fight against reality.
This acceptance can lead to more problem solving down the road. I’ll invest in my values. I’ll invest in things over which I have control. I’ll invest my energy in actions that have a positive impact, however small.
Please take care of yourself during this time of turmoil. What will you do to add hope, love and joy to your life and to the lives you touch?