COPING MECHANISMS – S03E04

Erwin McManus and Aaron McManus discuss different strategies to cope during this pandemic. In the conversation, Erwin addresses the reality of the dangers of life. He uses sharks in the water as a symbol for this danger. As humans, we have to decide to live fully in the face of risk. We either learn to swim and navigate the waters, or stay on the shore-afraid and paralyzed. Aaron highlights that the protests for Black Lives Matter were a direct representation of this; many people risked contracting COVID for the sake of joining the fight for justice.   

Aaron also shares on the power of discipline to overcome feelings of depression. He addresses the importance of simple disciplines such as eating healthy, working out and getting enough sleep. With such a lack of external structure, we have to build the muscle of internal discipline. Erwin builds on that statement, explaining that humans are meant for progress. We need attainable short term and long-term goals right now.  

Aaron shares that the struggle with progress is that sometimes the process to achievement doesn’t look similar to the intended outcome. And sometimes, failure and mistakes are a part of that process. Erwin reminds Aaron of the importance of not letting mistakes define us, but inform us. Erwin also reminds us that small steps create big outcomes. To cope during this time, it’s important to celebrate even when the victories seem small.

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