JustBreathe

a magazine by HEALING HOTELS OF THE WORLD

  • Body
    • Health
    • Ayurveda
    • Detox
    • Anti-Stress
    • Beauty
    • Healing Water
    • Graceful Aging
    • Weight Loss
    • Fitness
    • Sleep
  • Mind
    • New Consciousness
    • Mindfulness
    • Meditation
    • Yoga
  • Soul
    • Spirituality
    • Food for Your Soul
    • Me-Time
  • Life
    • Holistic Lifestyle
    • Inspirational Podcasts
    • Inspiring People
    • Green Living
    • Charity
    • Design
  • Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
  • Healing Hotels
Close
JustBreathe
Close
  • Body
    • Health
    • Ayurveda
    • Detox
    • Anti-Stress
    • Beauty
    • Healing Water
    • Graceful Aging
    • Weight Loss
    • Fitness
    • Sleep
  • Mind
    • New Consciousness
    • Mindfulness
    • Meditation
    • Yoga
  • Soul
    • Spirituality
    • Food for Your Soul
    • Me-Time
  • Life
    • Holistic Lifestyle
    • Inspirational Podcasts
    • Inspiring People
    • Green Living
    • Charity
    • Design
  • Food
    • Nutrition
    • Recipes
  • Healing Hotels

It Isn’t Over Yet, But we Are Learning How to Cope

Mind, New Consciousness November 23, 2020 Beth Gantz
It Isn’t Over Yet, But we Are Learning How to Cope

© Patrick Schneider

We have all heard the phrase “uncertain times” repeated like a broken record over the past seven months. Nobody really seems to have a clue what’s going on or when, if ever, we will return to our pre-pandemic lives. Since entering these uncharted waters, we’ve suddenly found ourselves sharing a collective experience with the entire globe. We are all experiencing lifestyle changes, together. We are facing new challenges, together. We are learning how to cope, together.

 

Coping mechanisms

But why is it that some people seem to be flourishing during this time, starting businesses, getting physically fit, and learning new skills, while others are stuck in a state of depression and inaction? The reason is that everybody chooses their own coping mechanisms. Some choose action, projects, and self-improvement, while others choose numbing, anger, or avoidance. While in most cases it’s obvious which behaviors are healthy or unhealthy, it’s important to note that both types of coping mechanisms are completely normal human responses to stressful and upsetting situations. The good news: if you are capable of choosing an unhealthy coping mechanism, you are also capable of choosing to replace it with a healthy one.

coping mechanisms

When learning how to cope, you must first focus on the things you can control, rather than those you cannot. Making a physical list of these items will help. Under “Things I Can Control,” you might list limiting your exposure to upsetting news, cutting back the amount of time spent on social media, or choosing to wash your hands thoroughly and wearing a mask in public. Listing “Things I Cannot Control” is helpful too. We know that in order to cope in a healthy way we must choose radical acceptance of our current situation, and learn to let go of these. For example, you cannot control whether other people follow social distancing practices, or whether stores will have a stock of the items you need, or how long this pandemic will last. In order to learn how to cope, you must choose to release these fears, and focus instead on the power you have over your own life.

 

Cognitive reappraisal

This process of categorizing information and controlling our response to it is called cognitive reappraisal. As mentioned earlier, negative emotions like fear, sadness, and anger are simply a feature of the human experience. For as long as you have a brain and spinal cord, you will experience these emotions. In fact, negative emotions can actually be a good thing; they can signal that something is important to you, or that something needs to change. So before you work on redirecting your negative emotions, take a moment to consider how they might shed light on your inner state. Then you will be ready to move onto cognitive reappraisal as a coping mechanism.

learning how to cope

A simple way to practice cognitive reappraisal is by completing the phrase, “This is good because…” This helps you find something to be grateful for in a difficult situation. Perhaps during this pandemic, you have found yourself stuck inside with your entire family. To reframe this in a positive way, tell yourself, “This is good because I have been able to learn more about my family members and now I can understand them better.” This method works even if you have experienced great loss with seemingly no positive outcome. You can still choose to cope by saying, “This is good because I am learning how to find gratitude even when I’m grieving.”

Though simple in theory, reframing your perspective of a situation through cognitive reappraisal is a coping mechanism that requires time, patience, and practice. Be kind to yourself, and recognize that the emotional changes you are making in your inner being are massive and challenging. Emotional coping mechanisms are powerful because they help control your response to stressors, but it’s equally important to take simple physical action when possible. To best support your practice of emotional coping mechanisms, try implementing small tasks that will allow you to feel a sense of accomplishment and satisfaction when finished.

 

It’s a process

Since the beginning of the global pandemic, there has been a collective increase in sales of arts and craft supplies, household games, and home exercise equipment. And with good reason! Studies have shown that completing a task or project can boost mood and help divert attention away from stressors. Playing games and laughing with your housemates is a great way to trigger the release of endorphins, the body’s “feel-good” chemicals. And exercising even for fifteen minutes a day has been proven to combat feelings of depression and anxiety. Including simple activities like these is an excellent way to give yourself a break from the work you are doing to cope emotionally with this stressful situation. There has never been a better time to try something new, so don’t be afraid to branch out.

The most important thing to remember when learning how to cope is that it is a process. Changes will not happen overnight, and you shouldn’t get frustrated with yourself for slipping back into your old unhealthy coping mechanisms from time to time. Instead, take notice of small wins and areas of growth. And keep in mind that because of the events of this year that we have all encountered together, we will have collectively learned healthy coping mechanisms that we will carry with us throughout the rest of our lives.

 

Tags: cognitive reappraisal coping mechanism

Leave A Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

HHW Banner

Food for Your Soul – A Column

Breaking the Fear Algorithm: Uncovering Media Manipulation and Finding Emotional Freedom

Recently, I observed how social media manipulates our emotions to keep us engaged, sparking my desire to delve deeper into this calculated strategy. Read more →

The Inner Mirror: Discovering the Depths of Self-Trust

If you want to learn to trust yourself, you have to go on a journey deep within to face your fears and to learn to love yourself on the way. Read more →

Emotions as a Pathway of Inner Awakening

By going within and recognizing your inner landscape via deep introspection, you can embark on a journey toward inner transformation. Read more →

Newsletter Signup

* indicates required

justbreathemag

An online magazine by @healinghotels created to change minds, habits & hearts 💛
#HealingIsLove #Health #Wellbeing
Click below for all articles ⬇️

Just Breathe - A Wellbeing Magazine
🔮 Unlock Your Energy, Unlock Your Joy! Ever fee 🔮 Unlock Your Energy, Unlock Your Joy! Ever feel drained for no reason? Your energy flow could be out of sync.When your energy moves freely, you feel grounded, inspired, and calm. When it’s blocked? Stress, fatigue, and emotional overwhelm take over.Try this reset:
✨ Take 3 deep breaths
✨ Repeat: “I am calm. I am in flow.”
✨ Ground yourself—go barefoot in nature, soak up sunlightMastering your energy is simpler than you think—and it’s the key to lasting happiness. 🌿📖 Read the full article by @christywhitmanofficial via the link in bio.#EnergyFlow #StressRelief #MindBodyBalance #JustBreatheMag #ChristyWhitman #InnerPeace #VibrationMatters #WellbeingJourney #HealingEnergy
What if everything we’ve been told about Friday What if everything we’ve been told about Friday the 13th is wrong?The number 13 was once sacred—deeply connected to the moon, the cycles of nature, and the Divine Feminine. 🌕✨It’s time to rewrite the narrative and reclaim its ancient power. 🔥Beautifully written by @larajday 💫
Read the full article—link in bio.#FridayThe13th #DivineFeminine #Sacred13 #AncientWisdom #ReclaimTheFeminine #LunarCycles #SpiritualAwakening #JustBreatheMag
🌊 Surrendering to the Ocean 🌊From childho 🌊 Surrendering to the Ocean 🌊From childhood bike rides by the beach to silent moments with his father by the shore, @mrmikedelarocha reflects on the sacred lessons of nature, community, and surrendering to the present moment.⁠
⁠
This essay is a powerful reminder that healing doesn’t happen in isolation—it happens when we return to the earth, to each other, and to ourselves.⁠
⁠
✨ Tap the link in our bio to this deeply personal essay.
⁠
#Surrendering #SacredLessons #MikeDeLaRocha #HealingInNature #SurfAndSoul #CommunityHealing #SpiritualGrowth #JustBreatheMag #JustBreathe
🌿✨ A Dharmic Journey in the Heart of Nature ✨🌿Step into the healing embrace of the Swiss Alps, where crystal-clear rivers, ancient forests, and sacred ceremonies guide you back to your true essence. 🌊🔥🌬️🌍🌌Join a powerful dharmic journey through the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and ether—to restore balance, clarity, and connection within.From cacao ceremonies and forest bathing to labyrinth walks and nourishing cuisine, every moment is designed to awaken your body, mind, and spirit.Led by the wise and soulful @christelle.chopard, this one-of-a-kind retreat invites you to breathe, feel, and realign with your dharma.🔗 Full article linked in bio
🍃 Reconnect. Realign. Renew.#DharmicJourney #NatureRetreat #HealingWithTheElements #ChristelleChopard #WellnessRetreat #SpiritualJourney #YogaRetreat #SwitzerlandRetreat #ReconnectWithNature #ElementalHealing #JustBreathe #JustBreatheMag
🌙 Struggling with restful sleep? Discover these 🌙 Struggling with restful sleep? Discover these powerful bedtime affirmations by wellness expert @shannonkaiserwrites to calm your mind and invite peace:✨ I fill up my cup with self-love and it balances me.
✨ I rid myself of negative thoughts to purify my mind and body.
✨ I invite positive energy to flow through my body.
✨ I let go of the day.
✨ I heal what I am willing to reveal.
✨ I conclude my day with love in my heart.Incorporate these affirmations into your nightly routine to release negativity and embrace tranquility for a rejuvenating night’s sleep.🔗 Find the full article in our bio!💬 Which affirmation speaks to you the most? Drop a 🌙 in the comments if you’re ready for peaceful nights!#SleepWell #Mindfulness #SelfLove #PositiveEnergy #LetGo #Healing #PeacefulNights #Affirmations #JustBreatheMag
Load More... Follow on Instagram

About JustBreatheMag

Just Breathe is an online magazine that was created to change minds, habits and hearts on the most important and current topics: health and wellbeing.

Powered by

Healing Hotels of the World Logo

Popular Tags

ageing anxiety Ayurveda balance beauty consciousness coronavirus detox diet DIY fear Fitness five elements gratitude happiness healing Healing Hotels HEALING SUMMIT health healthy nutrition inspiration intention Life lifestyle love me-time Meditation mental health mindfulness new year nutrition podcast recipe self-love self-reflection self care sleep spirituality stress sustainability transformation Travel weight loss wellbeing yoga

Behind the Scenes

  • Article Submission
  • About Us
  • Contact

Newsletter Signup

* indicates required
Legal Info | Privacy Policy | Terms & Conditions | Cookie Settings