The uncertainty of when the pandemic will end still continues in our lives and has consequences for our emotions, our mental health and wellbeing. This is compounding the (pre-pandemic) state of our mental health, where depression was already identified as one of the leading causes of disability by the World Health Organisation, with high individual and community costs.

As human beings it is normal for us to strive to reduce our uncertainty. However, for many of us, certainty may feel elusive as we struggle to live and work in our current environment. The beliefs that we have about future outcomes impact our emotions and feelings of uncertainty. For instance, if we view our experience of uncertainty with curiosity, our stress response may be moderated. In contrast, if we believe we lack control over the situation our stress response may feel more substantial and impact our emotions and wellbeing.

‘Learning to live in this environment of uncertainty is now an important priority for us all. Developing our capability to prioritise ourselves and be flexible with our plans to make adjustments that serve us best will go a long way towards positive outcomes.’ [1] 

[1] Ch. 3, Cultivating Mindful Clarity, By Mary Mangos, Finding Your Well-BEing, October 2021

If you would like to learn more, read my latest article in Thrive Global HERE