How to be sane in a crazy world
- paulettecrowley
- Apr 14
- 4 min read
There's no doubt about it, the world is a chaotic place at the moment. From trade wars to climate change, there's no shortage of dangerous and disturbing news out there. It's overwhelming and induces fear and frustration for many.
It might feel impossible but there is a way to live through these uncertain times with some peace. If you're struggling with how to be sane in a crazy world, read on for my thoughts on how to live well, regardless of what's going on in the world around you.
10 x health basics
First thing's first, you need to prioritise what is absolutely non-negotiable if you want sanity - your health. The way we look after our bodies is the foundation for our physical and mental health. Many of us already know what we should probably be doing but actually doing it consistently is another thing. Read more about behaviour change and how coaching can help here.
If you need a reminder of good health basics are, here's a list of the basics:
Eat mostly whole foods, including lots of fresh, colourful fruit and veges.
Drink lots of water.
Get lots of regular, good-quality sleep - 7-9 hours a night is good for most people.
Move your body every day.
Have a purpose and review and revisit it regularly.
Spend time in nature.
Have meaningful connections.
Keep stress low.
Have fun.
Feed your spiritual life
Don't use substances like alcohol to self-medicate.
Need more detail? Read the Good Health Coach Health Basics blog here.
Figure out what you can control
Having autonomy over your life is important and makes us feel free and in control. However trying to control everything brews frustration and exhaustion.
Take some time to sit down and take a close look at what you can control. Is it your work routine? Your home environment? Your relationships? Your choices about what food you eat, or what you purchase? How about your values and beliefs? What you watch or listen to, or read?
Once you've figured out exactly what you can control, you can find ways to preserve and protect what is meaningful to you. The best way to start this is with learning how to build healthy boundaries.
Building good boundaries takes time to master but in general, there are a few things to remember when you start practicing them:
Keep it simple - state what your boundary is but don't go into a big justification about why. For example, you could say, "I don't talk about religion or politic - it doesn't serve my relationships."
Be prepared to repeat your boundaries for people who don't know them, or for people to learn them. Patience is key - not everyone will accept your boundaries straight away until you have taught them.
Be assertive, not aggressive. You don't need to intimidate people - just be clear and calm.
Practice small boundaries first, such as turning your phone notifications off when you need to rest, work or do something that's important to you. Maybe you could leave a social occasion early because you don't like being around alcohol. You might start saying you're not available to someone who demands too much from you. You might choose not to argue with someone who disagrees with you.
Accepting what you can't control
Many people spend a lot of time trying to control everything in their lives, which is a waste of energy. Control can also look like worrying over something, not necessarily actively trying to change things.
Weighing up what you and can't control is an exercise in sanity. Often, your answers will come down to this: you can't control anything but your own responses.
Being powerless over most things is a reality but that doesn't mean we have to stand and back and do nothing if we feel passionately about changing it. You could despair at the state of the environment, or might strongly disagree with the way something in society is run but the trick is to realise that even though you may not be able to change or control it, you can make small contributions to change.
Perhaps that might be planting native trees in your garden, or joining an environmental community group. It could mean taking up a cause to promote what you do believe in, rather than focussing on what you don't believe in.
How to be sane in a crazy world
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a positive psychology tool that embodies the practice of accepting what you can't change and changing the things you can. I use ACT in my practice as a mental health coach and love the way that it can help people simplify how they live in a crazy world.
Using the tools from ACT helps people to develop psychological flexibility. For example, ACT tools can help us to live a good life, even when many things are uncertain and out of our control. The ACT system can help us to identify our values and how to take committed action toward them, even when it feels really tough.
Living a life in accordance with your values can bring meaning and peace, even when the world outside is raging into insanity.
Call Paulette on 027 231 5970 or email info@goodhealthcoach.co.nz to find out more about how mental health coaching can help you build resilience and strength.
コメント