Perilous Pandemic Ponderings - Part 2: Personify the Lie, Demolish the Demon(s)

      Personify the Lie: About 20 years ago,  a woman who could quote about any Bible verse verbatim shared a reservation about the passage "Get thee behind me, Satan" -- "Why would I want the devil behind me, where I can't see, where he'd have an unfair advantage?!" Her assertion became a strong metaphor for me on behalf of those I have seen subsequently who are either in psychological denial or otherwise trying to avoid facing their problems 'face-to-face'. As the wise woman went on to explain, isn't it better to face our personal demons in order to have the slightest chance at slaying them, rather than turning our backs and giving them the advantage? The first step in doing so, then, is identifying which of the Great Lies (see part 1) we may be entertaining as truths, but leading us astray. 

       Steady as We Go: The second step is to recognize that, like any large body of water, we can't change the overall 'tide of life', how the surface waves also have an accompanying undertow. In this metaphor, the undertow (or undercurrent, if you prefer) represents the accumulation of life experiences that gave rise to the negative self-talk. Being aware of these circumstances (such as childhood maltreatment, personal failures, etc.) gives you a chance of 'steadying' yourself in the case you find yourself in similar circumstances or in proximity of such people. Thus, if you have to or decide you want to enter the water, you won't be as prone to being dragged under. As Viktor Frankl ("Man's Search for Meaning") and others remind us, after experiencing dire circumstances, when so much has been stripped from us, one freedom that we continue to possess is how we think about and engage our circumstances. In other words, a powerful mindset, which sustains us even in the presence of strong undertows. 

       Acting Out: Finally, counterconditioning such negative self-talk, including the Great Lies, is partly accomplished though action, by DOING! When stuck in a cycle of negative thoughts and feelings, some of the strongest and most accessible strategies to mitigate include sustaining strong physical, social, mental (as well as spiritual) engagements. Admittedly, you are being called upon to do so when you might be the least inclined, due to feeling depressed, low energy, and unmotivated (i.e., a paradoxical equation). But if you can 'force' yourself and find social supports to rally you, the gradual accumulation of these engagements (along with the above noted measures) can and will gradually evolve to a mindset that is contrary to the Great Lies holding you back. Just how much accumulation is sufficient depends on one's history of experiences. But it is definitely DOable!