Natural disasters. Illness. Political conflict. Turmoil around the world. General negativity. Some days, bad news seems to be everywhere we look - from our phone and TV screens to our social media feeds.
All that negativity can feel inescapable, like living in a perpetual "cone of uncertainty." It hurts to watch, and yet we can't look away. But what if we told you there is a way to lift your spirit and persevere through it all?
We take the research showing that our attitude toward life can impact our health to heart. Prolonged stress has been proven to speed the progression of certain diseases. And it can also affect your day-to-day life, interfering with your ability to live a vibrant, happy life toward whole health. To us, this is equally as important to "treat" with a shift in outlook.
Why Your Outlook is Important to Us
"Outlook" is the seventh pillar of our CREATION Life model and refers to how we approach the world and our lives. We were all made to be compassionate beings, but even the most happy-go-lucky among us can feel scared, stressed and out of control while constantly facing life's more challenging experiences.
And a healthy dose of mindfulness can help you take "bad news burnout" in stride as your turn the gears toward a happier life that feels whole.
Understanding Mindfulness
You can look at mindfulness from a number of different perspectives, but at the core it's about self-awareness - of our body, mind and spirit. Mindfulness also extends to being aware of other people and things around you.
How Bad News Burnout Affects Health
Feeling focused on more negative events or feelings can increase fear, anxiety and worry, and overwhelm you to the point that it's all you're thinking about, all the time. On the other hand, it can also numb us.
Dwelling on these events and thinking of worst-case scenarios can flood your body with unnecessary stress, which has a physiological effect on your body. Stress hormones can affect your mood, weight, energy levels and even blood pressure.
Incorporate Mindfulness Into Your Life
Reflection is a great place to start with mindful practice in your life. Just sitting down and paying attention to the emotions that you're feeling when you experience these things. Mindfulness is also about getting a complete picture, stepping back and assessing the situation. Then, you can address it and be proactive instead of reactive.
Taking this a step further, focus on controlling the controllable in your life. So often we create worry for things we can't control. Worry can be good if it elicits change, but if you dwell on it, it is less productive and more harmful. If you put your mind to actions that shift your focus towards something positive, it can go a long way in benefiting your whole health.
Mindfulness for the Whole Family
Practicing mindfulness can benefit you and those around you as well. When you have children looking to you in stressful situations, it's important to be mindful of how your actions can increase or decrease their stress. If you're expressing panic and worry, it can add to their stress levels. Even if that wasn't your intention, it's the perception that matters.
Too, you'll be teaching your children mindfulness skills that will benefit their health and future. Talk about mindful practice as a family and help your kids build these skills as they encounter challenges in school or with peers.
Faith and Mindfulness
Every person's faith means something different to them, but faith has a strong connection to decreasing worry and anxiety. Sometimes, being mindful is letting go to fear or apprehension and putting your trust into your God or higher being that is your source of strength and faith.
For more information about our CREATION Life principles, click here.
