5 ways to deal with tragedy and the holidays

It’s unfortunate at any time to be burdened with worldwide tragedy, but particularly during the holiday season the presence of war and senseless killing may feel unbearable.  I believe the craziness in the world can overtake you if you allow it, but remember you are in control of you.  

How do you maintain the spirit of the holiday and celebration during tragedy without seeming insensitive, unbothered, unconcerned”?

 Well, here are five ways to get through and not give up hope.

      Stop watching the news

It’s ok to watch the news for headline updates but try to manage it so that you are never on the news channel or websites more than a few minutes a day unless you are a journalist or in a job that requires you to be in the know.

Stop talking about it

When there are tragic shootings, killings and such try not to indulge in the conversation and whatever your contribution is in the side bar chit chat, make sure to add some positive thoughts.

Don’t see things worse than they are

You never want to be the person who sees tragedy and maintains the world is coming to an end and all hope is loss.  Negative thoughts attract back negative, and negative emotions put you at the lowest level of frequency, which will block anything positive you desire.

Share a prayer or a kind thought

Be the person to send light and love to the universe in your thoughts and prayers.  Whisper a prayer for the persons directly impacted.

Donate to a charity

The ability to help someone in need or someone less fortunate will encourage you and lift the cloud of heaviness.

So there you have it.  These are my tips on how to stay informed but not consumed so you can move forward in your work day, career, business or holiday.  Now I want to here from you.

Do you find yourself feeding in to the water cooler conversation about gloom and doom in the world or are you on the opposite spectrum of light, love and bliss?

—Dee C. Marshall, Career Coach,  @DeeCMarshall