It's now Friday evening, after 10pm. My feelings of helplessness and sadness about the hurricane victims seem to be dissipating at last. Here's why I think the fog is finally lifting:
- I significantly limited my news-watching time in the past 24 hours. Having the TV on nearly all day was draining me emotionally. Giving myself permission to cut back was clearly a smart move.
- When I did watch the news, it helped to learn that troops and supplies have reached New Orleans and considerably more people were evacuated by bus and chopper today. That means more people have hope of surviving and starting over.
- I played with my part-time dog (my sister's Golden Retriever, Abbie, who is hanging out with us for the weekend). Having a pet around is very comforting and stress-reducing. If you've got one in your home, hug them extra this week.
- I wrote. I wrote in my journal. I wrote here at my blog. And I wrote and published a new issue of my Living Boldly newsletter, about how to cope with the helpless feeling - and in so doing, found my own helplessness easing.
- I updated my web site home page to list resources for hurricane victims - that felt productive and like I was doing at least one small thing.
- And, I realized I could do one thing more: offer free 1-on-1 life coaching sessions, by phone, to hurricane victims. If you are a survivor/victim of Katrina, or know of someone who is, check out this free coaching offer to see if it might help you. There is no cost or obligation; it's just my way of making my skills available to someone who might be in need. So feel free to spread the word and tell a friend.
I think that being able to take some positive actions helped me turn my mood around today. If you're feeling overwhelmed by all the images on TV and thoughts about the suffering of the victims, what can YOU do that feels positive, so you can shift your own mood for the better? Because the truth is that OUR sadness will not relieve THEIRS... it's not going to change anything if we suffer right along with the victims. But taking action MIGHT just change something, for someone. Figure out how you can help, in any tiny way, and go do it. You can still care without getting mired down in despair.
