Anxiety
can be thought of as “distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of
danger or misfortune,” and experiencing it makes us human. Though we cannot
minimize these feelings, we can lessen how we transfer them to others. Rabbi,
psychotherapist and author Edwin Friedman says that a well-differentiated
person has “clarity about his or her own
life goals, and therefore is less likely to become lost in the anxious
emotional processes swirling about.” This person “can be separate while still
remaining connected, and therefore can maintain a modifying, non-anxious and sometimes challenging presence.”[1]
As
a regular user of public transit, I was not surprised to hear that city bus
drivers have stressful jobs.[2]
But I have realized that they are a non-anxious presence on our streets. Though
their minds may be racing, they must be calm on the outside, able to transfer
people from one place to another, be willing to chat, answer questions
patiently, and solve problems with a smile. Therefore, though prohibiting their
surrounding situations from impacting their emotions and actions is exceedingly
difficult, it is a requirement.
Are you a “non anxious presence” who experiences the highs
and lows of life without adding stress to the situation? If so, you are rare
and the world desperately needs you.
No comments:
Post a Comment