I was recently flying across the country, and near Phoenix, the flight experienced some pretty rough air for quite a while. Most of my flights lately have been relatively calm, so I was not only anxious but also started thinking of all the “what ifs?”, which of course, only heightened my anxiety.
And then as the air calmed, the airplane was still in the sky, I was still buckled into my seat, and the atmosphere inside the cabin returned to normal. I was able to relax and no more white knuckling the armrests! However, there was a little corner of my brain that was on alert, just in case there was more choppy air.
After the turbulence passed, I thought about my normal, immediate reaction of anxiety and fear. And I realized that it was partly because I had no control over the situation and felt helpless. I had to trust and rely on the pilots.
How do we deal with sudden turbulence in our lives? It happens to all of us: world and weather events, difficult relationships, unexpected illnesses, loss of family members and friends. We certainly don’t expect those things to happen that are out of our control, but when they do, it is easy to panic, lose our sense of balance, become fearful and perhaps withdraw.
What internal and external resources do you have to help keep your balance during stressful times? What are your personal coping mechanisms? Some examples of internal resources might be anything from breathing deep calming breaths, to gathering information about helpful solutions vs. conjuring up “what if?” scenarios. Or how about using humor to manage some of the anxiety? We each have our own unique ways to handle the stress of the unexpected and fear of the unknown.
And external resources might be a trusted partner or friend to share your feelings with, or to help brainstorm workable solutions, or perhaps someone who is a good listener. In the midst of turbulent times, it is so important to be able to trust yourself and focus on your strengths and resources in managing your reactions and emotions in the moment.
Once you can name your strengths, embrace them, develop them and share them. You just might find that the next turbulent time is a bit more manageable.
Ask Yourself–
What was a turbulent time for me in the last year?
How did I manage to get through that time? What personal strengths helped?
Did I also turn to outside help? If so, who?
How did I react when the turbulence subsided?
Hoping the week ahead allows you time to focus on your strengths and is “turbulence free” ! Suzanne and Patty