Holding the tension is key for success in tough times. BUT How?

Maybe you feel tense because the country has gone on lockdown (again), or maybe you are not able to self-isolate, and have to go and work in difficult situations despite rampant covid virus variations all around.  Or maybe you are concerned about the politics in your country and feel the need to fight, or to have peace, or justice. Or maybe you have personal issues that are really weighing on you, like other health issues, or the illness of family member, or the breakup of a relationship.  Or maybe someone close to you has died but life has to move on, despite everything and the craziness in the world is too much for you.

How can I hold the tension and move on, and maybe even move upwards?

The answer: Choose to hold the conflicting emotions and thoughts and let the tension just be; allow the issues that contradict each other to come into your conscious and pay attention to it all.

So, you are angry about the government, its restrictions (or lack thereof) and you want something different, but you have no control over it and yet you are tired and just want everything to be done.  

I can relate, and this is what is to be done: admit your feelings and thoughts and then think about what can and what cannot be done at this moment in time, think about what is helpful and beneficial (to you and to society), and then try and do it.  If there is failure, at least you have tried and given your best.  Then you can sleep at night.

Maybe you are scared to go to work because there is no way to guarantee your (health – or maybe even other) safety at the moment.  This kind of worry is totally understandable and it’s realistic to feel unsafe.  But you still have to go to work, so how can you function without letting anxiety get the best of you?  

Have a plan: if x and I will do x, if y, then I will do y.  And if you have a panic attack (a lot of people are having them these days so don’t be ashamed)- have one or two activities that can help.  You might want to google a tedTalk exercise called, “a simple way to relax” or follow my pintrest board on anxiety.

Also, feel free to declare the day a no-internet or no-social media day.  You can fast from more than food, you know.  I have friends who do this regularly.

No matter what, consider the paradoxes and try to hold them all in tension, and then try to move forward, slowly, one step at a time.

I wish you all the best for this week.

Patricia Jehle               patricia@jehle-coaching.com