Nine Tips to Help You Cope During Turbulent Times

Some scientists believe that we might even benefit from learning about the ways other cultures name their feelings, many of which do not have a direct English translation. Take the Finnish concept of sisu, for example, which is a sort of “extraordinary determination in the face of adversity”.

“You can think of the words and the concepts they are associated with as tools for living,” said neuroscientist Lisa Feldman Barrett at Northeastern University in Boston.

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Since our worries tend to fixate on the future, rather than the past, it can also be used to focus our attention on preparing and problem-solving. It can also motivate us to take action.

Research has shown worrying can help with everything from being more prepared for wildfires to attempts to quit smoking. And when the worry is about something you can’t do much about, understanding this lack of options can help to defuse it. According to Kate Sweeny, a health psychologist at the University of California, Riverside, a good process for channelling worry and redirecting it if necessary is:

• Label the worry.
• Run a mental checklist of possible actions to deal with the problem.
• If all possible actions have been taken, try to get into one of the states that reduce worry, like flow, mindfulness and awe.

Read the whole story (subscription may be required): BBC News

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