Stay focused on what you have control of, not Covid

As Covid-19 numbers grow, the possibility of getting a phone call from family, friends and colleagues with news of someone falling to the virus keeps growing.

For most people across the world this is the first time they have dealt with such a pandemic that does not encourage them to physically be there for their loved ones. Master neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) practitioner and life coach and founder of E2 Life Coaching Lesley Callow has offered some advice on what people can do if they find themselves in these unfortunate situations. C

allow explained that one of the most important things people need to understand is that people deal with fear, stress and anxiety caused by Covid-19 differently. She said, “Fear is complicated and everyone experiences it differently and at a different level of intensity. This is based on how you experience the situation, what you have seen and heard and most importantly their beliefs are around the virus.”

Callow offered some advice on what to say to those around you that have lost loved ones to Covid-19. “All you have to say is, I am so sorry for your loss. How are you coping right now and then just listen. Do not comment or try to make the situation better. Just listen.” She added that no one is in a position to control how other people think, speak or behave in reaction to their Covid-19 experiences and misfortunes. “We can only be in control of our own thoughts, what we say and how we react and what we do. Clearly understanding the difference empowers us to be able to separate out what we cannot control.”Callow added, “Stay focused on what you can manage and control. Let go of what you can’t. Focusing on what you cannot control creates more and more anxiety and worry neither of which are helpful.”

In addition to making decisions based on facts and expert and not public opinion, people should continue to wash their hands, follow social distancing practices and all other Covid-19 safety tips.