Staying Positive in a Freaked-Out World – What Does Freaked-Out Look and Feel Like For Others?

Posted on August 12th, 2009, by Meggin McIntosh, Ph.D.

When you are working on ways of staying positive in a freaked-out world, it’s helpful to think about those around you. What does freaking-out look like for some of them? Here are some possibilities:

Are people running around saying, “The sky is falling!”?
Is there incessant negative talk?
Maybe you’re seeing anger flaring up among people who aren’t normally angry or it seems to be increasing.
Or is there inappropriate use of language or inappropriate use of something else?
Maybe it’s excessive use of alcoholic beverages. Maybe you see people who are drinking more as a way of somehow making them feel better. They must have missed that class in high school that taught us about how alcohol is actually a depressant, so it’s not helping anyone feel any better.
Maybe you are noticing people who are being quite snippy or short with others.
Or could it be that the smallest courtesies seem to have gone right out the window? You’re not hearing the simple words, “please” and “thank you.”

Jot down some ideas about what you are noticing. It’s helpful to bring it to your consciousness. It is helpful to do this just for yourself, but it’s also worthwhile to do an activity like this in a staff meeting or in a family meeting. The idea is for everyone to be more cognizant of what is happening with those around them – so that we can all help one another, as needed.

For example, many families are having some talks about things that they haven’t needed to talk about for a while. I’ve heard some really amazing stories about kids who are very concerned about their parents who may have lost their jobs or one or both parents’ jobs have been cut back – and kids are saying, “I can help.” It’s a painful time and yet an amazing time for families to pull closer, work together and have some discussions that maybe they haven’t had to have in the past.

Maybe you have also seen or heard some amazing stories about what people are talking about and doing for one another in the workplace, For example, my husband and I were talking with a neighbor just this past week. He said that at his work, although layoffs were imminent, what they had all decided they were going to do was to take additional days off. This way, everybody would be reducing their salary to an extent – but it would ensure that some people were not laid off altogether.

Maybe you’ve had had this experience similar to one we had recently. My husband and I went to a store we’d never been in before and just inquired of the owner about the store hours. The guy said, “We used to be open seven days a week. We’ve decided we’re all going to work less, and that way everybody can stay employed.”

I think it’s powerful and positive when people start to have frank, open discussions and to problem-solve as a group so that people, whether they are family members, co-workers, or even complete strangers begin to look out for one another (and themselves at the same time).

So, take a moment now and reflect on what you’ve heard from others lately that gives you heart. Think about situations, stories, and examples where people are being anything but selfish – and everyone is assisted in the meantime.

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Through her company, Emphasis on Excellence, Inc. (http://www.meggin.com), Meggin serves those individuals who want to know, feel, dream, and do…more…and who want to do so with consciousness, clarity, and conviction. If you think this sounds interesting, it is!!