Everything is Not Going to be Ok

The economic changes of the last year have rocked us all. While the impact on individuals worldwide is on face value clearly negative, there is a silver lining in every cloud. Conventional wisdom suggests that psychotherapists are best advised to help people cope by de-catastrophizing their negative thoughts and using positive thinking to reduce suffering and stress. In my experience, these methods are of no value in this situation. As they say, extreme problems require extreme solutions.

What is going on in this country represents a unique opportunity for individuals to move away from complaining and ruminating about their situation and essentially take action. It has been well established that we do not have much control over our thoughts and feelings, but we can control our behavior. This is an incredible opportunity to look at our lives with an unjaundiced eye and really think about what you want to do in your life. Despite all the money that many people have made in the last few years we are as miserable as ever and our kids are often jaded, spoiled and/or pressured. We were living in a fool's paradise and needed to look more clearly at what matters and work on redirecting our lives.

I think most of us need to essentially stop acting like victims and seize control. Remember that since the beginning of time people have suffered and lived without food or shelter. We have this absurd notion that we should always be happy and never suffer and yet it is only in difficult times that we really grow and learn. This is a tremendous opportunity to practice preserving in the face of adversity and function as effective models for our family, kids, employees, etc. Suck it up and focus on what you can control. By the way, lose the depressogenic conversations with other sad sacks that further deteriorate your mood.