These days there is so much to be anxious about.  With gas prices sky high, our democracy at risk, inflation out of control and families struggling to just put food on the table, there is much to be anxious about.  I watch people daily struggling to believe that they can get through this difficult time.  From young families, to older couples, everyone is struggling to feel confident about the future.  Anxiety is high around the world, as parts of the world struggle in war and uncertainty.  How you manage this time is up to you.  Don’t let anxiety become so overwhelming that you lose your hope for the future.

                When I think about the symptoms of anxiety, you think about trouble sleeping, invasive thoughts, and short fuses.  How can anyone concentrate when every time you turn on the news, the reporters talk about all the negative events of the day.   The news often causes anxiety, which is why I often recommend not watching the news.  Watching the cable channels these days makes people think the whole world is going to pot, with no hope of recovery.  As I think about it, however, I think about the past.  Our world recovered from pandemics, war, and so much more in the past only to rebuild better than before.  The devastation after World War II left countries with rubble where cites used to be, but they recovered, and a new normal was established.

                Even our country had to rebuild after the Civil war.  These days I have studied history more than any other time in my life to feel more optimistic that we can recover from world events, just as we have recovered from issues of the past.  We survived the Civil War, prohibition, World War I and II, other pandemics, financial collapse, and corruption in government.  There have been scandals, court cases, and other drama, but our country, and other countries around the world, persevere and push forward.

                On some level, anxiety is state of mind.  If you let all the current issues overwhelm your thoughts, anxiety can paralyze you and keep you from moving forward and planning positive things for your future.  If you acknowledge current issues, and have faith that you as an individual and the country will get through and be stronger, you will be able to manage your anxiety and continue to thrive in spite of this difficult time.  Never underestimate how your state of mind can affect your progress toward a happy life.

                As you think about the future, manage your anxiety by having faith in the past.  As a country, we have overcome worse times.  As a global family, we have managed so much more and emerged stronger.  If you think the worst will happen, it probably will.  If you have faith in yourself, and others, wonderful things can happen.  I continue to have faith in the people that continue to move our world forward.  I have faith that they will overcome those who are trying to sabotage our progress, and bring us back to the 50s.   Keep a positive state of mind, so you can manage your anxiety during this difficult time.  It’s all part of being happy, for life.