To keep mental health
Due to the influence of the coronavirus, days of self-restraint continue. Perhaps many people feel stressed and depressed because they cannot go to school or work, have to spend time at home, and unable to meet people.
I found out that there are several effective ways to keep our mental health. The first is to stop looking at the information that fuels anxiety and reduce the amount of time you spend on the news. Second, have someone to talk to. Talking with people can greatly reduce your stress. Thirdly, changing the viewpoint (changing the way of looking at things). How do we put it into practice?
Do you know “the story of Pollyanna”? The main character, Pollyanna, lost her mother at an early age, but she is a lively girl. She thought “I want a doll,” but one day the gift she received was a crutch. When disappointed, her father John told her: “Don’t be disappointed. Look for pleasure at any time. You have legs that you can walk without a crutch! Thank God for that.” He taught her a game “Find something to be glad about” to find joy even at times. Later he died and she was taken over by a relative, but there she continued the game and encouraged the people around her, though she was coldly treated by the relative and had an accident.
Before the spread of the coronavirus, we thought it’s normal to go to school, meet people, go to work, and travel. However, in this situation, we realized how grateful our ordinary days were. In the first place, it is not that we are alive. We are allowed to be alive! When you become aware of that, you will be able to rejoice even for small things, reduce stress, and create a space for gratitude.
The Bible says, “Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances.” (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) Whatever your situation, there are always good things to appreciate. Psychiatric experts say that those who appreciate are quicker to recover even if they get depressed than those who do not. Because there is room in their heart.
Why don’t you play the game? Thank God for keeping us alive.
Youth Pastor Kenshiro Goto