Fear Strikes our Heart

The Coronavirus is one of the more difficult situations our World, our Country, and our community has experienced in a long time.  The virus has each individual trying to figure out the best possible way to manage our out of control feelings of fear. Fear and stress are normal components of the human experience, but how we deal with them is crucial. Widespread illness, natural disaster, or personal loss elevates our emotions, leaving it difficult for us to open our hearts and focus on the good. Despite how overwhelming and scary this or any other disaster is, there are always rays of light. We have to accept the circumstances that this life sometimes naturally gives us, but we get to choose how we move through them.

Fear can create an abundance of negativity, and if not careful, negativity can grow like wildfires. Regardless of what is going on in our lives and our world, we must remember, the emotional energy that we are putting out into the world is the energy that will come back to us.

Make it a point to create some good energy in these times of distress. Take a few minutes every day to check your Emotional Attitude and look for the good.

So, how do we see the Good?

• Our Country is “still” for the first time in a long time.
• Families are outside walking and doing yard work together.
• Couples and kids arm in arm walk through neighborhoods.
• More children are riding bicycles than I have seen in twenty years.
• Movie night has been put back into place for many.
• Board games are being pulled out from the bottom of our closets.
• Cooking meals at home together is happening every day.
• People (and teenagers) are reading actual books.
• Neighbors are sitting on the porch playing the guitar.
• Sidewalk chalk art is a real thing in my neighborhood.
• Actual phone conversations are taking place.
• We are calling old friends and checking on one another.

• And we’re praying. Not just for our Nation, but for every other Country in the World.

Working to see the good is not to diminish what we are all going through in our world today. For some, it may be worse than others. I realize with every positive experience I point out, some can point to a negative. But we have no choice but to experience what is happening whether we do it with fear and negativity, or with faith and hope. The thing that we focus on the most is the thing that we will see and feel.

I believe we will come through this together, hopefully wiser and better. This life, this world we live in is beautiful regardless of what is going on. Togetherness, kindness, tenderness, and patience can and will heal just about anything.

To quote the words of Neale Walsch, “The trick is to stay positive in a sea of negativity.”

Tamela Duncan, LCSW is a practicing psychotherapists specializing in individual, relational and marriage therapy. She received her Bachelor’s degree from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and received her Master’s in Social Work from Florida State University. Prior to beginning private practice she worked for years as a counselor/social worker in the Public Mental Health Sector.

She is a licensed, clinical therapist, is certified in Regression therapy and has extensive training in spirituality, life coaching, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and mood disorders. For over a decade, she has taught at UNCG’s Call Program. Tamela continues to provide workshops and classes open to the public.

She is also a talented musician/writer and has written “How to be Genuinely Happy” and created “Family Secrets.”  a CD is used as a therapeutic composition for healing. Tamela’s focus is on enhancing the quality of life of individuals, groups and communities by helping them reach their full potential. For more information contact her at tamela@tameladuncan.com or (336) 275-7585.