by Kathy Mann, Author & Speaker

Stress researchers define stress to be what happens when something we care about is at stake. This definition allows us to understand our values and motives and to uncover what’s happening beneath the surface when we feel stress or anxiety.

In response to the coronavirus, I’ve noticed polarisation on social media. Some are torn between protecting our loved ones and business survival. Those who believe that we must isolate ourselves and others who believe that the cost to the economy of isolation will not be worth it. We like to be ‘right’ about our opinion and some people are attacking and judging others for theirs.

When we identify what is at stake for us, we understand our own reactions and the rationale for our point of view. Even better, we can also see that other people have different things at stake. They might have elderly relatives that they are afraid might die. They might be imagining a dire future for their business and the impact on their families.

What can we do to manage the stress in this uncertain time? We can increase our resilience by taking whatever action we can to feel that we are more in control of our immediate environment. I have seen businesses communicating with customers about how the virus affects their offerings. Some have created compassionate services to safeguard the wellbeing of the elderly. Some have closed their doors and others have communicated their precautions in keeping their customers and staff safe.

There is also a degree of surrender to the things we can’t control. We cannot control other people and whether or not they self-isolate. We cannot control how many people will become ill and die in our country and worldwide. Taking action on what we can control and letting go of what we cannot control is a healthy response to such a pandemic. In knowing that others have something different at stake can bring some empathy that dissolves the judgement.

Research shows that people who believe in something greater than themselves tend to be happier. Religion or faith bring a sense of hope and the concept of meaning behind the adversities we face in life. If you have such a faith, I encourage you to lean on it and gain the support and comfort that it offers you. For those who are not religious I encourage you to have faith in humanity and your community.

The coronavirus is something that we all be affected by in one form or another. Allow it to bring unity in doing your part to overcome the situation. That might be supporting a local business in a different way such as online orders or offering comfort to someone who is experiencing a lot of fear. We will get through this and it may be an opportunity to operate differently as entrepreneurs and global citizens on the other side of this pandemic.

What’s at stake for you and how are you showing up?

Kathy Mann is an author and speaker with a special interest in stress management. She is passionate about guiding people towards their best lives possible in harnessing their strengths and innate talents. She offers a stress re-framing service, which shifts beliefs to be more constructive around stress. She does this by educating her clients about the variety of stress responses that exist and how we can benefit from them. Kathy's books Avoiding Burnout and Harnessing Stress are available at major retailers and online at Amazon. She is a wife and mother of two beautiful daughters and lives in Johannesburg, South Africa.