What’s spreading as fast as the coronavirus? FEAR.
Fear is one of our primal emotions.
Healthy fear can save your life. It can keep you from doing something incredibly stupid.
However, unhealthy fear can destroy your life.
Someone defined FEAR as False Evidence Appearing Real.
Unhealthy fear must be managed. Otherwise it can become like a tsunami drowning you in a sea of uncertainty, paralyzing your productivity and wrecking your reason.
So, what are some ways we can manage fear during a pandemic?
Fast Your Fears & Feed Your Faith
4 Ways to Fast Your Fears
1. TURN OFF THE 24-HOUR NATIONAL NEWS NETWORKS.
Tune into only the official briefings from the White House or the CDC. Get your facts from OFFICIAL channels only.
Centers for Disease Control: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/index.html
Federal WEB site: https://www.coronavirus.gov/
Maryland: https://coronavirus.maryland.gov/
2. STOP THE SPREAD!
Well, I mean the spread of rumors and hoaxes. Do NOT forward alarming emails and messages. Particularly if it instructs you to FORWARD them! Remember, if it sounds alarming, it’s meant for harming. A quick check on https://www.snopes.com/ or https://www.truthorfiction.com/ could save everyone from unnecessary panic.
3. STEP AWAY FROM THE SCREEN!
Limit your Social Media time and content. Social Media can be used for so much good but is equally capable of so much fear-spreading. When you are on Social Media, avoid articles and posts that create hype, anxiousness and fear. Don’t just wash your hands, wash your mind!
4. FEED YOUR FAITH!
Here’s 4 ways to do just that…
4 WAYS TO FEED YOUR FAITH
1. FOCUS YOUR DAY.
As soon as you open your eyes, whisper a prayer. I begin nearly every day with the following prayer, “Father thank you for another day. Help me to honor you in everything I do and say. May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable unto you, O Lord my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14) Amen.” Before your feet hit the door, let your knees hit the floor.
2. FEED YOUR SOUL
Spend some time reading the Bible. Download the Bible app at https://www.bible.com/app and find a daily reading plan that will help you infuse your faith. Here are several reading plans focused on reducing anxiety: https://www.bible.com/reading-plans-collection/812
There are 365 “Fear nots” in the Bible. Start feeding your faith with God’s word.
3. FILL YOUR HEART
I like to listen to praise and worship playlists on YouTube. My car has a BlueTooth connection so instead of turning on the radio, I frequently fire up a playlist and spend a little time singing in the car. (BTW – if you pass me and see me acting a bit crazy, now you know). Here’s some playlists I’ve been listening to:
- Goodness Of God (LIVE) – Jenn Johnson | VICTORY
- Leeland – Way Maker
- Subscribe to Anna’s YouTube channel to find Oak Ridge’s playlists
3. FIX YOUR THOUGHTS
Paul said, “And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.” (Philippians 4:8, NLT)
Someone said, “An idle mind is the devil’s playground.” Spend some time each day learning something new.
Read a book. Find a good non-fiction book in a subject that interests you and that will grow your mind. Our staff is currently reading, Developing the Leader Within You by John Maxwell and I’m personally reading Churchill: Walking with Destiny by Andrew Roberts and The New Testament In Its World by N.T. Wright.
Listen to some Podcasts. Have you discovered the world of podcasts? There are literally thousands of podcasts out there on every subject known to man. I listen to several church leadership podcasts monthly. Here’s a sample of some of my faves:
- Craig Groeschel Leadership Podcast
- Carey Nieuwhof Leadership Podcast
- Andy Stanley Leadership Podcast
- The Dave Ramsey Show Podcast
Take an online course. What have you told yourself that you’d like to learn someday? A new language? A software program? A little history? There are hundreds of courses available online. Use this down time to learn something new! Check out this site: https://www.coursera.org/
Watch videos that will grow you. Here’s a library of over 1,000 great leadership videos: https://globalleadership.org/all-content
Don’t let fear steal your faith.
Let your faith wreck your fears.
How do you handle your fears?
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