We are living in a time of enormous flux on many fronts, with some of these changes seeming to happen hourly. Whole work sectors are shrinking; careers that people have thrived in for decades are vanishing, not to mention the changing climate and the reordering of the world as we once knew it. For even the most stable and grounded among us, digesting this tsunami of unpredictability is near impossible. Focusing on what we can’t control, by seeing ourselves as wayward jetsam being powerlessly tossed about by these waves of change, can lead us to never want to leave the comforting warmth of our morning bed. One of the signs of depression is a feeling of powerlessness and a lack of agency over one’s life. This can get quite serious, locking us in a paralyzing rut of self-doubt, which, if unchecked, can go on for a lifetime.
Even though most of the world is a place we can’t control, this doesn’t mean we should stick our heads in the sand and ignore it; it is simply an acceptance that we only have so much power over these immense storms we are living in. We can, however, take action and focus on what we do that has a direct effect—what we say, what we do, and who we are around. Actions are an antidote to paralysis. Just doing something—anything, really—that will improve your situation to even the slightest extent will absorb some of the anxiety around it. Get up, make your bed the best you have ever done, and look at it and feel proud. Simply put, actions change our mindset. We feel better when we perceive we have agency in a situation, and even if the action doesn’t solve the situation, we can learn from it and feel we have done something. That something will lead to another something. Doing nothing leads to—you guessed it—nothing.
I have never been able to think myself into doing the right action. When I am upset, no amount of naval gazing will work to the extent that moving my feet and doing something about it will. The prescription for me is more doing and less worrying. Some people can sit quietly and change their worldview; this super-human capacity is beyond me. Worrying’s benefit is to motivate me to act. Taking action—any action—restores a sense of agency and inspires me to expand my horizons beyond what may have been invisible a moment ago. Having a sense of agency is foundational to having an optimistic mindset. An optimistic mindset tells you there are possibilities; a pessimistic one, not so much. If things are tough, and believe me I know all too well that deep pit of fear and doubt, try to remember you have options. You may not see them yet, but they are there. Our abilities and outcomes are not set in stone; we have brains, and we can learn and adapt, and we can do things. When in doubt, be kind to others, which will help you see yourself more kindly. That we exist is a marvel worth cherishing.
Onward and upward,
David
