What is happening?
We all are experiencing something that we had yet to experience. Things are chaotic and wild. New information bombards us with an intense frequency. Fear, panic, malaise, trepidation.
What are we to do?
How about nothing?
Let’s go back 3 months ago. We had no idea this was coming. We went about our lives as we usually do. Things seemed OK. We had lower levels of anxiety and fear. Our schedules were just as they always were. In effect, we went about our daily lives as we normally do.
So what’s different now?
Nothing is different, we cannot see where we will be 3 months from now any better than we could have seen this all happening 3 months ago.
The anxiety and fear we are experiencing are because we are trying to find answers. We are trying to anticipate what will happen. When we do this we are faced with the unknowable. We analyze all that is happening so that maybe we can ascertain what will take place in the future. The problem is all the analysis and trying to figure things out only causes us stress and anxiety.
So maybe just step back a bit and realize that life is the same as it has always been and you can’t peer into the future for answers to things that are unknowable.
If you have fear of some pain or suffering, you should examine whether there is anything you can do about it. If you can, there is no need to worry about it; if you cannot do anything, then there is also no need to worry.
-The Dalai Lama