The current pandemic situation caused by the spread of Covid-19 can be a major source of negative thoughts for everyone. How do we manage our inner barometer to face our obligations? All the information circulating in the news and social media generates a very powerful emotion: fear. It’s a very useful emotion for protecting us against immediate danger. Fear has a rapid impact on our body and is expressed through an increased heart rate, sweaty hands, or tension, etc.
We also know from positive psychology studies that negative emotions generally have an impact three times greater than positive ones, such as gratitude, curiosity, serenity or hope. In such situations we can intentionally activate another part of our brain that Daniel Kahneman (2002 Nobel laureate in economics) called “system 2,” instead of “system 1,” the unconscious and automatic one (like fear), which handles 95% of our daily interactions. System 2 is lazier, requires more energy to activate, but is logical and helps us analyze the situation with a cool head. That’s exactly what we need in the current situation to assess it and take appropriate measures to handle things as well as we can. We can also turn to meditation, listen to music we like, or do a bit of physical activity to distance ourselves from anxiety-inducing situations. Often, it’s in our own hands to make a small change in our emotional state.
The capacity for resilience in the face of stressful and anxious situations involves feeling that we have the ability to impact the situation we’re in. Sometimes it can be very difficult because very few people can impact the situation on a global level. However, we can focus on the things we can impact, such as our own safety and immediate wellbeing and that of the people under our responsibility. The current situation also tests our capacity for adaptability. Therefore, it’s even more important to be connected to our inner barometer to be able to improve our decision-making capacity, which must remain intact to manage the situation. Mindfulness practice can help in some situations, but there are other ways to relieve anxiety, such as physical exercise, reconnecting with an activity that fills our soul, or connecting with loved ones.
Change, especially when it happens every 24 hours, is by definition complicated, and although it may seem overly simple, the best thing is to go day by day and adapt to the situation, focusing on the areas we can impact and taking responsibility for our actions.
April 2020
Amélie de Marsily
United Way España. Head of Fundraising Committee
Illustration: Ignacio Hildebrandt