Keep your finger on the pulse

Understanding how you affact yourself and others is a key facet of building resilience.

Changes and challenges that we experience at work or as part of our lives make many of us feel like life is chaotic and out of control. So, they obviously influence us on an emotional level. During such times, we expect everyone to experience a wide range of emotions. Some of our survival emotions will cause us to want to flee, get away, hide, or even try to forget.

There are also those of us who, with or without specific reason, will rebel, become irritated, want to fight, and blame others or yourselves. We may even sink into emotions of helplessness, despair, powerlessness, and with it, tears.

These emotions are part of being human and to be expected in exceptional circumstances such as a crisis or a pandemic. As reasonable people, however, we know that we cannot do much about the broader context. We must act with wisdom and responsibility regarding our own emotions and consider the impact of our emotions on people around us.

Remember the following:

• Start by honestly recognising, acknowledging, and trying to understand your emotions.
• Manage your emotions by engaging in activities that are good for you, interest you, and give you a sense of meaning (for example, exercise, gardening, or keeping a diary).
• The emotions we experience are more manageable if we take responsibility for talking to those we trust, such as a dear friend or a close colleague.

There is no doubt that traumatic times are upsetting for the world, our country, our families, and ourselves. However, let’s use the time constructively by re-understanding the origin and management of our emotions. Also, use the time to develop an understanding of how the people around you experience and manage their emotions.