How to Stay Motivated in Times of Crisis

With all that’s going on today with the corona virus, sheltering in place, people laid off from work, and wearing facemasks, it feels overwhelming and surreal.  People are feeling out of control; hoarding tissue paper, paper towels, rice, beans, and cleaning products.  Listen, can anyone tell me where I can find some bleach?  Seriously!

It’s been unbelievable and quite unsettling to see bare shelves in the grocery stores week after week and to stand in line to get into stores.

Our reality has shifted into an unfathomable way of life. Personally, it has caused me to think about what is important to me and how God wants to use me in this season of life.

I continue to drive into work because I work for a large medical organization. Each day is an emotional experience because I see how it affects the people who serve the sick; and the sadness over those who have lost their lives because of the virus.

Food Cravings Amid Anxiety and Uncertainty

While dealing with a bundle of emotions, I’ve been having food cravings.  I just want some comfort, some easy way to NOT feel because I don’t want to deal with the craziness of life.

I know the battle is in my mind.

I also realize that the root of my food-cravings is because I’m feeling helpless over this pandemic and living daily in the surrealness of wearing a face mask, sheltering in place, and keeping my distance from others. I feel like I’m living in the Twilight Zone.

However, knowing that food won’t change my situation, but make it worse, I use the tools I’ve learned to work through my food cravings. I know that if I’d give in to my cravings, I’d spin out of control and snack on everything I could get my hands on. I’d be off and running into the food again. Been there, done that! Don’t want to go back!

Fight – The Battle Can Be Won! 

To curb my food thoughts, I have to keep running back to God. He is my hope!  My hope can’t be in the donuts that people bring into the office or the homemade cookies and brownies that a staff member recently brought into the office this week!

Big crisis- God is much bigger.

This is the time to lean in and spend more time in God’s presence. Living in fear is not an option!  So, every morning, I get to ask God for His direction and purpose for me that day. And I get to look for His leading throughout the day. It’s about surrendering my will daily to God and recognizing that I’m powerless over so many things in life.

In 12-Step programs, they recite the serenity prayer. You know the one that says, “God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”

There is a full version of the serenity prayer written by theologian, Reinhold Neibuhr. It is a great prayer to know and to memorize. The full version reads as follows:

Serenity Prayer

God grant me serenity to accept the things I cannot change.

Courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to

know the difference.

Living one day at a time,

Enjoying one moment at a time,

Accepting hardship as the pathway to peace.

Taking, as He did, this sinful world as it is,

Not as I would have it.

Trusting that He will make all things right

If I surrender to His will.

That I may be reasonably happy in this life,

And supremely happy with Him forever in the next.

Amen.

It seems like an oxymoron, but it’s really true. Surrender to God and freedom is yours. After all, He is the creator of the universe. He can handle our overwhelming cravings, burdens and battles. Give Him your battles in exchange for His peace, strength, love and hope.

God wins every battle!

Be safe,

Cynthia