How to cope during times of uncertainty
There is no doubt we are currently faced with an almost unprecedented amount of uncertainty in the world and for many of us, this is the first time that we have experienced this to such a degree.
The drought, Black Summer Bushfires and COVID-19 have given us a lived experience of adverse climate conditions, natural disasters, and pandemic. A lived experience refers to the situations that people find themselves in along with the choices they make, and the knowledge gained from those experiences and choices. Everyone’s experience of a different period of time however is unique and we can all learn from each other’s perspectives and coping mechanisms. One way to share our knowledge of lived experience is through story telling and writing. Writing our own story can be therapeutic and help us to reflect and even bring healing.
Whether it be through self-reflective journaling or sharing stories via a blog or online forum, writing can a helpful tool in the management of our struggles. Sharing stories can help those who may be having similar struggles and can connect us to others and to our community. Don’t be too concerned with story writing perfection or worry that your story may not be interesting to others, even the greatest of writers have had those same anxieties. The important thing is to get started and to decide if you are writing your story for yourself or to share with others.
In East Gippsland and Wellington, there is a website specially designed for local people to share their stories of struggles and triumph, of recovery and resilience. The ‘Your Story’ page on the Connect Well website is for anyone who has a story to tell. Word count doesn’t matter – your story can be as short or long as you want it to be, and you can also upload photos. Stories can be about of the Black Summer Bushfires impact and recovery, or about community events such as the East Gippsland Field Days, time spent with family or a great book we have read. A story could be about local places that make us feel connected and the things we do to counteract stress and build resilience.
You will find the Connect Well team at the East Gippsland Field Days (look for the giant yellow jigsaw pieces) if you would like to have a chat about writing your story and uploading it to the Connect Well website. You can also email the Connect Well team at connect@connect-well.com.au for further information. The ‘Your Story’ page with details on uploading stories and photos can be found on the Connect Well East Gippsland + Wellington website.
