First issues first, let me begin by saying that the financial system is hard proper now and Nigerians usually are not smiling. However everyone knows that, don’t we? From shopping for a bag of rice for 80k to purchasing gasoline at nearly a thousand Naira per litre, everyone seems to be feeling it in someway.
For many people, the worth of products and providers is only one of our many troubles. Go searching you, everyone seems to be indignant and annoyed. Individuals are yelling at each other. There’s despair and hopelessness. The usual of dwelling is nosediving, and speedily too. From poor infrastructure to the nationwide grid collapsing each different day, insecurity and the various destructive in-betweens, it’s protected to say that it’s fairly a troublesome time for Nigerians proper now. And in conditions like this, it’s tough to see the silver lining or the sunshine on the finish of this tunnel, particularly when it seems to be like this tunnel has no finish.
I’ll be trustworthy with you once I say I’m struggling too. It takes rather a lot for me to not get up within the morning and hiss, or scream once I see the worth of products available in the market. However in moments like this, you will need to keep a constructive spirit and do issues to place you in a state of happiness as usually as you may. For me, I’ve prioritised group, friendships and wellbeing. Now and again, I inspect my pals, I ship them messages if I can not name. We speak and provides each other time and house to rant. Issues are powerful proper now so it’s necessary to not do life alone. I additionally watch motion pictures. When it looks as if my world is crashing and my head is a large number, I watch a film and/or take heed to music. They don’t seem to be lasting options to issues however they supply momentary aid and distractions.
I requested some calabargistrians how they’re able to stay constructive in these powerful occasions. Right here’s what they needed to say.
Pamela
I’m typically an optimistic particular person with a dose of actuality nevertheless it’s been actually onerous sustaining an optimistic and constructive mindset in these attempting occasions. I feel I’ve gone by means of a number of phases of frustration; from grief, to unhappiness to despair to concern to hope. Hope, as fleeting as it’s, is what I maintain on to. To not sound too preachy however, I really feel like, we are able to’t be going by means of all this if not for a objective, proper? These are the issues I do to stay optimistic and sane:
- Journaling and dealing or strolling by means of each emotion. Don’t masks it, really feel it, sit in it, make sense of it, make peace with it, transfer previous it and formulate a line of motion.
- I follow gratitude and maintain onto my religion, simply to shift my perspective. Being grateful for what I’ve, the individuals in my life, the little blessings, having a job, roof over my head, and so forth.
- I interact in actions to raise my spirits – learn books, binge-watch motion pictures, sequence, and something constructive/humorous. Scale back the “noise or information”. The important thing for me is preserve myself up to date and never immerse myself within the negativity.
- Giving. So one factor I’ve seen is that everybody desires to be heard and listened to, so I take heed to individuals. I’ve been kind of an agony aunt to many and it offers me aid to assist others, take heed to them and stroll them by means of their struggles and considerations. It’s a temper booster for me when somebody says “thanks” after talking with me.
- The fifth is what I’m actively studying/leaning into and perfecting – on the lookout for alternatives to make “this” work for me and work in my favour. In occasions like these, there are alternatives for innovation and ground-breaking concepts.
Rashidat
I at all times really feel like this too shall move. No matter it’s I’m going by means of, it shall move. Regardless of the scenario, I imagine it’s not the tip; the story continues. And so long as this story continues, I’ve one other likelihood at rewriting it. “This too shall move” is how I preserve shifting and be certain that issues don’t weigh me down. Then a little bit little bit of alcohol. I wish to play with my youngsters. I’ve an interior little one that’s wild, free and pleased, and taking part in with my kids brings that facet of me to the fore. I additionally blackmail God, haha. “Father, you stated in your phrase…” Then I’m going forward to cite no matter scripture I would like to make use of as my bargaining chip.
Ahmad
I sleep and watch motion pictures. Each time my thoughts turns into heavy, I attempt to lie down and sleep. Like an escape. I do know the troubles don’t go away, however whereas I’m asleep, the troubles additionally fall asleep. Additionally, the bewilderment that wears you down whereas waking up, scrambling for what the time is, questioning how lengthy I’ve slept, amazes me. Each single second I sleep seems like an escape. Watching an attention-grabbing film additionally makes me pleased. I take a while after watching a film to consider what may have been and what really occurred. In these occasions, worries no dey fear me.
Kwubei
For me, it’s motion pictures, music and getting myself treats. I watch sitcoms day-after-day. I watch soccer matches. I get treats for each pay. I’m going to the fitness center and this helps. I additionally attempt to discover the amusing components of the entire scenario and chortle at it. Then it additionally helps that I’ve a really lovely girlfriend, haha.
Layomi
First, nothing offers me extra peace and aid than praying. Two, I’m a TV Head; I devour quite a lot of TV. My go-to present is The Workplace. I’ve watched the whole 9 seasons not less than 4 occasions since I noticed it the primary time in 2021, and it at all times makes me chortle. I really like additionally music. I really like candy sounds. I dwell for good music. I pray with music. I’ve enjoyable with music. I exercise with music. In reality, I’m very intentional about music.
Lastly, I imagine that perspective is the distinction maker. I had a broach like 7 years in the past that learn that “perspective is the distinction maker” and I’ve at all times caught to that. No matter what it’s, it’s important to have the best perspective about each scenario, be it love, Nigeria, or no matter. Your perspective will assist you discover one of the best strategy to issues and conditions.
Rebekah
Films with pleased endings have been a type of escape. I simply black out the noise and dwell vicariously by means of the lives of individuals on a display. Speaking to individuals I really like additionally makes me soooo pleased. So, on these days once I really feel down, choosing up my cellphone and simply gisting with my members of the family who keep distant from me is the proper reset button.
Over to you, what are the issues that assist you stay constructive and sane in these powerful occasions?
***
Function Picture by Vlada Karpovich on Pexels