Written by Karen D. Swim, Photo ©martinapplegate | Dreamstime.com
Have you ever seen a small child cover his or her ears, close their eyes and loudly sing, “La, la, la, la, I can’t hear you, la, la, la?” Often their head shaking back and forth accompany the chant along with fast movements designed to outrun the enemy. In this case, the enemy is you and the words the child refuses to hear! Well, now that you got that image that is exactly how I feel today.
Bombarded with reports of the failing economy, the failing economy and oh you guessed it, the failing economy, I am covering my ears and singing, “La, la, la, la, go away, la, la, la!” Enough already!
Yes, there are bad things happening and of course, I want to be an informed citizen. However, being informed is one thing being assaulted is just downright depressing! Therefore, I have donned my Ninja happy (this is the impenetrable power suit of supreme happiness, in case you’re wondering) and selected my arsenal to fight back the “doomy” and gloomy.
- Listen but do not absorb. Sensitive people have a way of becoming so empathetic that they absorb the problems of others into their being. This can be harmful to your mental and physical health and affect your own objectivity.
- Focus on solutions not the problem. A constant replaying of the problem does nothing but torment you. It is far more productive to focus on solutions. For example, rather than focusing on the economy, focus on the things you can leverage to thrive during the down times. How can you maximize your earnings? What skills and talents can you leverage in the market to continue gaining work?
- Pray. I have found that God is way smarter than I am at solving problems. Praying helps me quiet my mind and spirit and refocuses me on what is important.
I am not in any way attempting to diminish the struggles that so many are having right now. However, what help are we to those in need if we are simply focused on the problem?
Today, I do not have everything I desire. Heck I am even struggling with a few things I really need! However, I refuse to be sucked into self-pity and despair. Instead, I clothed myself in the armor and looked out the window. I watched the light reflect off the pond and the trees gently swaying in the cool morning breeze. I listened to the birds chirp their happy little tune and the squirrels scamper up the tree. I was reminded that the sun will rise and set, and the stars will shine in a bear market or bull market. I could allow my attitude to remain consistent or I could fall prey to the up and down cycles of life. I chose to don the happy. That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!
How do you stay the course during bad times? Do you have any secret ninja weapons? Please share so that we can all learn. Remember that everyone is welcome to share his or her thoughts and ideas. No blog? No problem! Comments are open. Don’t want to share in public? That’s okay too. Shoot an email, a tweet or a note anywhere you choose. This conversation can go wherever you like!
Hypnosis and Hypnotherapy Melbourne says
Interesting post, what was your inspiration for this?
Lillie Ammann says
Karen,
Thank you for the lovely compliment. I agree that reading is often better than listening.
Karen Swim says
Lillie, I like your approach. I sometimes fast from the news because it can become just too much. I also find that reading is often much better than listening. One of the things I loved about you immediately is that you were not just diving headfirst into the chaos! Your wonderful attitude and warm spirit shine prominently through in your writing.
Lillie Ammann says
Karen,
I cover my ears and scream “I can’t hear you” by avoiding the strident voices in the media saying how bad things are. Just watching TV news or reading the newspaper can make me believe things are much worse than they really are. I choose to focus on the positive and stay too busy to get depressed.
Karen Swim says
Cheapsuits, why thank you! I can hear you or should I saw twear you 🙂 singing away. 🙂
Russell, thank you so much for your insights. Being “up” all the time is not realistic as you noted. Yet, we also have to manage the external things that attempt to sap our internal joy and peace. You offer us a window into how important that is as one who struggles with depression. We can learn much from you and the mechanisms you use to remain balanced. Thank you.
Andrew, great points! I agree it is important to work through your negative experiences. As you said, working through is the key and not being stuck. We all have bad times and bad feelings. We are human. Thank you so much for sharing and I am really glad that you made it through the challenge of unemployment!
Andrew says
Karen,
I can relate to the story about the screaming kid. They are usually the ones sitting on the table next to me as I try to read my newspaper and eat my dinner in peace. Typically, what they refuse to hear is their mother telling them to be quiet and sit still.
I am reminded of a quote by motivational speaker Zig Ziglar, who said that “anyone who is on all of the time is ‘on’ something.” Mr. Ziglar talks about being ‘up’ eighty per cent of the time and ‘on’ when you need to be ‘on.’
Personally, I went through several periods of unemployment a few years back. During those times, I resolved to be upbeat and positive eighty per cent of the time, whilst allowing myself to be down and miserable twenty per cent of the time.
I actually think it’s important to allow oneself to feel downbeat, upset or angry when going through difficult times. To do so I think helped me to be in touch with how I really felt, work through my feelings and get it out of my system.
To experience negative emotions in challenging times is not a sign of weakness, but a sign of being human. The key is not to stay in a negative frame of mind for too long and take any positive action you can to improve the situation.
Cheers
Andrew
Andrews last blog post..What makes a fair day’s pay for a fair day’s work?
Russell says
You ask how to keep on course in the down times, as someone who has to work through depression, which the statistics show us one in five people are affected with varying degrees of symptoms.
Being able to understand that all events that happen in our lives are exactly what is meant to happen for our development, helps with the mind set of as you said “I could fall prey to the up and down cycles of life”.
Could have things been different ?
this is where the understanding, that events could not have been different and you are getting the wisdom you need helps with the
” A constant replaying of the problem does nothing but torment you. ”
I notice in other comments left that exercise was used as a natural high,
I am a great believer in the benefits of sport and exercise as an aid to having an outlet ,to be able to sing La, La,La,La, to some of the lessons and events in your life that are uncomfortable.
To be happy all the time is not a realistic outcome but to understand all things are as they are meant to be and be okay with that and as you say
“Focus on solutions not the problem”
is a good approach to prevent your self from sliding down a path of,it is all to hard why bother, and into a depressive state
Russells last blog post..Aussies duel at Lake Stevens Ironman triathlon
cheapsuits says
“I am covering my ears and singing, “La, la, la, la, go away, la, la, la!” Enough already!” – well said! Spot on if I may say so!
Karen Swim says
Steve, I love running too! Running always puts me in a happy place.
Robert, spoken like a man with true wisdom! You are so right, this too shall pass. Hmm….didn’t a wise man write a post about that recently? 🙂
Friar, LOL! I am the annoying adult that mimics the kid only louder which probably would drive parents crazy. Hehehehehe, but I get to send them home. LOL!
Brett, perspective eh? LOL! You are right though, we can let it get to us or not…I choose not! Thanks my kilted wonder friend! 🙂
Brad, the prayer and humor thing made me laugh! LOL! Um sometimes I can swear I hear God laughing the big hearty kind with tears rolling down your face. LOL! I love your attitude and I’m so glad that I can count on you all to keep me laughing. You know our grandparents lived through the Great Depression and made it to the other side so there’s hope for us. 🙂
Karen Swims last blog post..Don’t Mess with the Happy!
Brad Shorr says
Karen, another fine post. For me, a good mix of prayer and humor (not at the same time) really lighten the load. Now that I’m older, I like to remind myself that things have been worse with regard to the economy and the world scene. Not only that, things can get better in a hurry, and when you least expect it. Somehow we always muddle through … so we might as well have fun doing it. 🙂
Brad Shorrs last blog post..News about Word Sell, Brad Shorr
Brett Legree says
@Friar,
To drown out that obnoxious kid, just give him a pickle or a spoonful of hot mustard. 🙂
@Karen,
I just remember that, all things considered, it could be much worse. And a glass of wine or a beer doesn’t hurt, either 😉
-Brett
Brett Legrees last blog post..the greatest thing since sliced vikings.
Friar says
Okay….but how do you drown out the obnoxious kid screaming “la-la-la-la” who’s trying to drown YOU out?
Heheheh.
Maybe you should go “la-la-la” right back.
Keep doing it until it escalates and you’re both screaming “la-la-la” at each other at the top of your lungs!
Wouldn’t THAT go over well with Mommy and Daddy? 🙂
P.S. This is why I’m an Uncle, and not a Parent!
Robert Hruzek says
Great reminder, Karen. For me, I always try to remind myself about what’s really important in the long run; I mean, the really long run. After all, most of these problems we face – economy, politics, gas prices, etc. – well, they come and go, don’t they? Not much we can do to stop them.
But who we are, our integrity, our relationships – those are the real source of stability and joy. When we focus on those things, well, with God’s help all the rest just sorta takes care of themselves.
Robert Hruzeks last blog post..Clueless
Steve says
Nice post. Well said.
I like to go on a nice, long run. It really clears my head and whatever anxieties I have disappear. Most times I come back with what my wife calls my “Happy Steve” look. I have worked out a lot of problems while running.
Steves last blog post..The Unexamined Life…