It’s been quite a year, hasn’t it?
And yet, here we are.
And, we’re not okay about it.
We may have been sick from coronavirus, or we may have lost people we loved.
At the very least, anxiety and stress are looming large in our lives.
So how can we manage living through this uncertainty?
“Life has changed so dramatically in 2020.
I don’t know a single person who hasn’t struggled in some capacity,” she said.
When this happens to Berg, she summons what she calls “the 30 second rule.”
She reminds herself to break down her experience of this endurance challenge into tiny chunks.
“When race day comes, I mentally prepare by knowing I can do anything for 30 seconds.
As the miles wear on, I parcel out the time in my head,” she explained.
“I count to 30 … and then count off another 30 seconds.
Eventually, I will cross that finish line.”
“you’re able to do anything for 30 seconds.
When you view it that way, it doesn’t seem so overwhelming.
You are able to focus on the present rather than what will come in the future.”
Berg has learned to find joy in the present during the most grueling moments of her racing career.
“The five-year-old cheering on the sidelines lifts our spirits.
The running buddies who coax each other, step by step, to the finish line warm our hearts.
The 80-year-old man pushing his grandson in a running stroller proves age is just a number.
There are gifts everywhere, if only we look for them.”
but youcanfind moments to savor in your own life, Berg noted.
“Maybe it means you finally have the time to dedicate to a passion project.”
“Some of us are recently laid off and wondering how we’re going to make ends meet.
Some find ourselves balancing caring for our children with working from home,” she explained.
“Stress is just energy,” Berg pointed out.
“Being a family member means we must keep on keeping on for them and for us.
“make a run at find the opportunity in the most difficult of hardships.
Expect the unexpected
By now, disappointment isn’t new.
Everyone’s had something (OK, many things!)
This is something Berg learned as a competitive runner.
“Before the race begins, I know the road ahead of me may be unfamiliar.
It may serve up more hills than I trained for.
The weather may change and start to rain.
The day could be hotter than expected,” she said.
You are, too.”
Berg said surviving unexpected developments and disappointments is all about mindset.
“It’s easy to become reactive or feel overwhelmed,” she said.
“When unforeseen challenges arise, take a moment to remember when you overcame a similar challenge.
The not knowing is nerve-wracking, indeed.
Scientists, doctors, and pundits are making predictions based on data.
But these predictions change as fast as the data changes.”
