Exploring Wellness for Body, Mind and Self: Responding To The Recession
From Anne Meneghetti, MD, 4/16/2009 8:20:13 AM
Past, Present, Future
How are you responding to the recession?
Shaken confidence? anger? regret? denial? How we respond during times of crisis reveals more about our state of mind than it reveals about our financial balance sheet. One way or another, the current recession has touched most everyone. For some, it may simply mean cutting back on a few luxuries. For others, it might mean a mad scramble to move to affordable housing, a reluctant agreement to a lower-wage job, and delaying retirement indefinitely.
In times of stress, there’s a common tendency to spend time living either in the past or the future, and miss out on the present moment. Even those who are focused on the present can get caught in ineffective mental cycles motivated by past regrets or fears of the future. Do you find yourself spending more time than you’d like in any of these patterns?
PAST: “If only I had made different investments, I wouldn’t be in this mess. I really regret not selling at the height of the market. I should’ve seen this coming – why didn’t I prepare? The best times are over.”
PRESENT: “I feel like I have to check the market every few minutes, or I’m out of touch. I need to take drastic action now to make up for what I’ve lost; if I don’t do something immediately, things will deteriorate.”
FUTURE: “I’ll never get to retire in comfort. Unless some miracle happens, I could end up poor, homeless, jobless, and sick. Things will get even worse as I get older. My future is empty; I’ll never be satisfied again.”
It’s natural and healthy to review past history and plan for the future. However, some of us spend time projecting ourselves back in time only to criticize our choices, or forward in time just to add fuel to irrational fears. Thoughtfully analyzing the past and realistically planning ahead are useful activities we can do in the present moment, with the benefit of our full attention.
Staying in the moment - whether analyzing, planning, working, relaxing, or appreciating all we have - has an upside all its own. Not only does it make a stressful situation more comfortable, it creates an open mind that sees the larger picture. One of the many benefits of maturity is that most of us have experienced crises in the past. Learning from past challenges, perhaps there were unexpected dimensions to these events – in some cases beneficial outcomes – that were not obvious until later. For many of us, times of crisis led to changes that helped define who we are today.
In coming blogs we will explore ways to be fully present in the moment, especially during times of uncertainty.
Wishing you peace of mind,
Dr. Anne
This information is purely educational and does not replace a physician's advice that may be unique to each individual. For all medical concerns, please see a physician to establish a diagnosis and explore proven treatments.
