#60 This Too Shall Pass

This Too Shall Pass

Have you been feeling stressed lately, perhaps due to an impending work deadline, conflict with a colleague or family member, or the Fit for Future restructure?

One simple technique you can try to help manage this stress is called “temporal distancing” – rather than only thinking about how difficult your situation is now, picture how you’ll think about this stressor in one or two years’ time.  Will it still matter then?  How will you feel about it then?

In a recent study, researchers in California determined that more frequent use of temporal distancing was associated with reduced negative emotions like sadness and anxiety, and greater positive emotions, like happiness and a sense of calm.  While this method doesn’t remove the stressor, it reminds us that our current situation should pass, and our feelings about it will change – and that gives us hope.

(To learn more distancing techniques, check out this podcast.)