Tranquility in a World of Worry
As a former middle school teacher and principal, I have the capacity to assess almost any situation and provide a number of potential "worst case" scenarios. I think most teachers have this ability. They are hopeful that their lesson, the field trip, the parent meeting, or the assembly go well, but they prepare themselves for almost anything. In healthy doses, this can be a good thing, but it can also result in unnecessary stress and anxiety.
I am also adept at using this preemptive catastrophizing in my day to day life -- when I read the news, attend a meeting, run errands, etc. Social media is also a catalyst for negative thinking and can set my brain in "Chicken Little" mode -- the sky is falling. As mentioned in a previous post, things seem especially challenging right now.
There is a fine line between staying informed and involved and maintaining a healthy perspective. The best guidance I have found in dealing with my tendency to worry about almost everything is found in Philippians 4:8-9 (The Message Bible):
Summing it all up, friends, I’d say you’ll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious -- the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.
Following this advice from the apostle Paul is not easy. It takes deliberate practice and constant reflection -- especially if you watch the news, or peruse social media. I'm not suggesting that we should be ill informed or naive about the challenges in our world, but if that is our sole focus -- if we don't seek out the good things around us -- we will find ourselves discouraged and burned out. It is a recognition and focus on "the best, not the worst" that will give us the energy and courage to be positive difference makers in our communities.