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TODAY'S CHILD

Experience builds strength and character.
Life is not lived in some distant land of
‘someday when everything is perfect’. It
is lived here and now. Yes, by all means
we can work towards a better tomorrow.
Yet to do so, we must navigate the
world as it is today, successfully. Our
happiness depends on our self-reliance,
our willingness to take responsibility for
our lives, regardless of who or what had
a hand in making life the way it is now.
It is about taking control of our present
circumstances and making a firm choice
to choose differently. It is about having
a pro-active mindset to life, not a victim
mentality.
The challenge is to stop all the focus
going towards feeding a COVID narrative
at the expense of alternative narratives
and stories of resilience. Currently, life is
challenging in terms of the practicalities
that we are experiencing. But life is
also very interesting at the moment.
Depending on how we choose to look at
it... we might be pleasantly surprised. We
need to try and stop expecting things
to be a certain way. We need to try and simply postpones and perhaps increases start worrying less about these; then we
appreciate them for what they are. negative emotions going forward. You will achieve clarity concerning things
might worry that your emotions will be within our control.
6. Build your community too overwhelming. Try and gain a bit
When times are tough, having the right of perspective before jumping into the I am advocating that we call an end to
people around is one of the most important worst-case scenario. If you need help, ask the crisis reaction to everything. When we
things we can do for ourselves. We want for it. Do not wait until you feel completely allow crisis reactions to define our lives
to surround ourselves with people who at a loss. If you find yourself in a cycle and mindsets, we burn out. We become
are loving, caring, honest and available. where the emotions are too much, contact anxious and depressed. We have less
We need them to be loving because love a professional psychologist for assistance. energy and less focus to find solutions.
makes the bad days seem better. Caring, Calling an end to the crisis reaction helps
because it helps to know someone cares. 8. Adapt and change us shift into a calmer and more solution-
Honest and available, because we need Our ability to cope relies in part on our oriented mindset.
someone who can look us in the eye and ability to make adaptive changes in
tell us the truth. Their honesty may be response to what has happened to us.
that one piece of information you need There may be new ways to approach life,
to get through the tough time because decisions to be made and changes to
their perspective differs from yours. They embrace. If we can respond actively rather
provide a fresh set of eyes to the challenge. than passively, we may be able to prevent
So, build your community with people secondary problems. Sometimes adapting
who share the mindset of changing and to a major upheaval requires being willing
adapting to the current situation. Grow to engage in problem-solving and try new • Marital, Couples & Family
together and challenge the old ways of things. Adapting can be difficult. People Therapy
doing things. tend to resist change, especially when • Counselling Children,
they feel vulnerable or threatened. But Adolescents & Adults
7. Be kind to yourself adapting is a liberating process. Remain • “Teen” Challenges
Prioritising self-care is a necessity to open to recreating life as you move into • Behavioural & Adjustment
survive any tough situation. The famous the future. The more we adapt to our Challenges
adage “you can’t pour from an empty cup” situation, the more effectively we will be • Stress-Related Challenges
rings true. While you might not have time able to cope with it... and move forward. • Adjustment to Depression &
for your usual healthy habits or might Anxiety
not have the motivation at the moment, In closing • Subject & Career Counselling
you can still take good care of yourself. It is easier to get through a difficult • Psychometric Testing
For instance, if you cannot prepare a time when we know the chances of it
nutritious meal, try and order a healthier happening again are small. Currently, For an appointment please call
takeaway option. If you cannot go to the we are rather confused as to what is 083 376 1995
gym because they are still prohibited, go happening, and whether life with Covid-19
for a walk. will continue into 2021. However, we can Fees are charged according to Scale of
still practice acceptance in terms of letting Benefits
Avoiding negative emotions may feel go of what we cannot control. By focusing
like an effective measure but, in fact, it less on the things we cannot control, we Practice Address: 27 Fish Eagle Street,
Silver Lakes, Pretoria

Pr. Nr. 0860000114022
Reg. No.: PS 0080543

26 INTRA MUROS JULY 2020