Still Feeling Overwhelmed? Try This...
If the news is getting you down, or if you feel like the world is spinning out of control, I get it.
It's not hard to feel that way.
The headlines would lead most of us to think the end is near! But of course, that's what they want you to think, so you will keep watching. We have a hard time looking away from an accident (I dare you to try) and the media outlets know it.
So what are we to do? How do we endure the volatility of the markets, the political climate and economic uncertainty that seems to be shoved in our faces every day?
In his book, "Yes to Life" Viktor Frankl shares a story of one of his patients, a young successful graphic designer, who fell ill to a malignant tumour on his spine, which lead to loss of the use of his arms and legs.
Confined to a hospital bed, he began to read, listen to music and interact with the medical staff and other patients, as best he could. Eventually however, the headphones caused excruciating pain, and became too weak to hold a book, while struggling to speak.
Eventually, this young man knew that his time was coming to an end. Overhearing the staff talking, and suggesting a significant morphine injection, deduced that in fact that night would be his last.
When Frankl came in during his rounds, they began to chat and the man who had suffered and lost so much, asked his doctor, now friend, if he would give him the injection before he left for the day. Frankl asked why, and the man explained that he didn't want the doctor to be disturbed at his home should he die in the night and have to be called back away from his own family.
"You will understand me if I now state that no terrific advertising graphics, not the best nor the most beautiful in the world would have been an accomplishment equal to the simple achievement that this man demonstrated with his behaviour in those last few hours of his life." Frankl (p61-61)
Frankl was making the argument that our lives can have meaning even in suffering (which was why he was against euthanasia or suicide as a legitimate response to suffering).
So what's my point?
If you want to live with meaning and purpose, you won't find it by focusing on the headlines on social media, but in the opportunities you take to make a positive impact in someone's life.
After all, that's why you're here, at least that's what I believe.
Ephesians 2:10 says, "We are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
So what can you do? Well, the answers are endless really, but here are few ideas to get you started.
- Send a "Just thinking of You" card to someone
- Invite someone for a coffee
- Be kind to your barista or server
- Sponsor a child (I'm partial to Compassion Canada)
- Babysit for a friend
- Send flowers to a grandparent (okay that one sounds self-serving since I have 4 awesome grandchildren)
But you get the picture. Sometimes the simplest gesture can have a greatest ROI. That's exactly what Frankl was saying and I guarantee you, that doing something for someone else is a much better use of your time than being distracted by the accidents of the world.
If you want to go deeper into living a meaningful life, check out my book, "Vantage point: Five Perspectives to Live a better Story"
Want a free chapter?
Download your free chapter of "Vantage Point: Five Perspectives to Live a Better Story" Click here Vantage Point
Until next time,
Dan