Acknowledge that feelings of distress are normal. Who would not be worried during these times? We don’t know when this pandemic will end. It has affected us in so many ways the past couple weeks that feeling carefree would not be normal. Many people say to focus on the positive things, and while that is a very helpful advice we need to recognize that it is okay to feel worried. Suppressing our feelings can lead to more stress and anxiety. Acknowledge them, evaluate where they’re coming from, and then identify the things we can control to help us ease our worries, keeping in mind that there are community restrictions and pandemic rules we need to follow if we decide to do something.

Take action over things we can control. These uncertain times might leave us feeling powerless but the good things is, we are not powerless—at least not totally. There are still aspects in our lives that are within our control.

We can choose to unplug from the media and lessen the information that we consume. There are countless sources of information circulating on the internet that may lead to confusion and heightened anxiety. It is definitely advisable to keep ourselves updated on what’s happening in our community, around the world even, but too much information won’t help us cope. Let’s choose one or two platforms that we can trust to get reliable information and stick to it. It is also important to limit how often we check for updates and learn to step away from the media when we start feeling overwhelmed. We can also choose to only share reliable and verified information.

We can also choose to follow the pandemic regulations in our area, wash our hands, exercise at home, boost our immune system and take extra precaution when we need to step outside for groceries, medicine, or other essential needs. For those working at home, we can choose to perform as we would working in an office and do an honest day’s work.

Focus on the present. One source of anxiety is worrying about the future and trying to predict what’s going to happen next. These worries might prevent us from making logical decisions for the present. When we focus our attention on the present, we can get a tighter grip on the things that we need to do now that can positively affect the future. This will help us ease our stress, boost our mood, and increase our overall positivity.

Help others. Amidst the stories we hear about people fighting over toiler paper rolls and political parties pointing fingers at who should be blamed, we also hear many stories of charity and hope.

Some of the uneasy feelings that we feel in the midst of this pandemic stem from feeling powerless. We can regain a sense of control over our lives when we do something empowering. One of the things that can empower us is to reach out to others in need. This might sound cliché but extending our hand to others can help us cope. Even with the guidance on isolation and staying home, we can still help without compromising our safety. Perhaps an elderly neighbor needs help with groceries or to get their prescription filled. We can always drop off the items at their doorsteps and do the financial transactions online.

Others simply need someone to talk to on the phone. A reassuring voice, even when done virtually, can provide comfort. We can also donate to foodbanks and other relief operations initiatives in our communities. And ultimately, our biggest contribution to this crisis is to stay home to prevent the spread of the virus.

Find peace through meditation and prayer. Simply knowing that there is a powerful being who can take this crisis away is already a comfort, we just don’t know God’s timing. You can find peace by seeking to know His will amidst all this and what you can do as His servant during these challenging times. When all else fails, we can be assured that He listens to our silent petitions and prayers. His love is real and His grace is sufficient to get us through these dark times. We can reach out to him in fervent prayer and give all our worries and fears over to Him. In these troubled times, we can rely in this promise of peace from the Savior, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid”.

There will always be uncertainty in the future no matter how much we strive to eliminate it, but we can cope with these uncertainties when we acknowledge that our feelings of fear and worry are valid, shift our focus to the present and the things that are within our control, help others, and find peace from the Prince of Peace Himself, our Savior Jesus Christ.

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In President Nelson’s recent address, he reminded us that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and are mindful of us always. Speaking of the difficulties we’re experiencing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, he assured us that “these unique challenges will pass in due time.” This is a promise of hope, assurance, and grace that the Lord knows our circumstances, hears our petitions, and sees our efforts to serve Him through caring for one another and ministering to our fellow brothers and sisters, even those who are not of our faith.

The Lord also promised “that joy is always within the reach of everyone who will hear Him and obey His laws.” This is certainly not a ‘time-out’ for us in terms of things that strengthen our faith. Although there have been many adjustments in the church in response to the pandemic, including suspending all church gatherings worldwide, we have been counseled to hold our Sunday service at home. This might be a new setting but we have been prepared by the Lord for this kind of circumstance through the home-centered, church-supported approach to gospel learning. We are counseled to continue furthering His work by learning about His gospel and sharing its good tidings with those who need light and hope in these troubled times. We have been counseled to strengthen our families so that we can be prepared to face more challenges in the future. We should continue building our faith, fortifying what matters most, and increasing our capacity to listen to the whisperings of the Holy Ghost.

Elder M. Russell Ballard also assured us that “everything is going to be just fine as we turn our hearts to our Father in Heaven and look to Him and to the Savior as the Redeemer of all mankind.” He also emphasized that although we can’t attend the temple, we can find peace in our homes when we kneel, pray and seek for divine guidance. He also encouraged us to make use of technology, if we have access, to increase our knowledge of the gospel of Jesus Christ and to reach out virtually to our families and friends during this time when we are encouraged to stay home and not attend large gatherings.

In these troubled times, we can certainly find peace that the Lord still speaks to living prophets today who make us aware of His promises through them. We can be assured of the promises made by President Nelson and Elder Ballard since we know that “whether by [His] own voice or by the voice of [His] servants, it is the same.”

Let us continue to hold onto hope, build each other up, and spread positivity through any means we find appropriate. Let’s continue to pray for those who are being directly impacted by the virus and those people who are on the frontlines trying to contain the virus or find a cure. Let’s pray for our governments, health workers, family, and friends. Let’s pray for compassion, understanding, unity, love, and wisdom to abound in people’s hearts. And most especially, let’s get on our knees and give thanks to God for our many blessings and the light and hope that His gospel brings to our lives in these troubled times.

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The List is Endless 

This generation loves planners, and to-do lists. By the time I reached my late 20’s, I had become very attached to my planner. Each day, I would list down some of the most important tasks of the day – taking care of my son, managing the house, finishing work deadlines, and doing my hobbies. Most days, I felt like I always had something important to do every hour. 

On one occasion – feeling drained and overwhelmed – I stumbled upon a Church video entitled “The Soul’s Sincere Desire.” The video depicted the life of an uber-busy young woman juggling too many priorities, only to find herself exhausted and discouraged. 

Watching that video was eye-opening. I decided to review my to-do lists and noticed something – there was no time for me to slow down, meditate, and just enjoy quiet time. There was no time for me to feel and savor peace. 

No Space for Peace

Nowadays, productivity is defined by how many tasks you can do in one day. Success is portrayed as jumping from one role to another without losing energy and focus. The world advertises productivity as living life non-stop. Unfortunately, it backfires. 

The millennial generation – perhaps the number one group suffering from emotional, mental, and spiritual exhaustion – has been tagged as the “burnout generation.” Young adults rarely find the time to relax, and enjoy quiet hours. With minds always occupied by multiple things to do, millennials can easily feel lost, unsure, and overwhelmed.

Why We Need Some Quiet Time

Even though relishing in the quiet moments is sometimes considered an unproductive thing to do, choosing to spare some time to enjoy the peace is one of the best things for our mental, spiritual, and emotional health. 

Quiet Time Helps Us Evaluate What’s Important

When we’re not rushing from one task to another, or wasting our time in worthless activities, we give ourselves the opportunity to evaluate and recognize the things that matter most. An hour of pondering and meditation can help us identify ways to improve our use of time. When we see beyond the deadlines, our time management becomes clearer. We begin to see if we’re spending time with family, if we’re dedicating enough moments for self-improvement, and if we’re giving enough time to help others. Moments of peace give us the chance to better value the things that matter most in our lives. 

Quiet Time Helps Us Feel Closer to the Lord

If we’re constantly focused on the rush, we tend to forget our relationship with the Lord. Sometimes, we find ourselves rushing our prayers, our scripture study, and our daily ponderings just because we can’t wait to start the day. Our lack of time for spiritual matters can cause us to miss important promptings, and meaningful revelations from the Lord. 

Choosing a time each day to ponder and connect with the Lord enables us to make better decisions, receive more guidance, and have the courage to see our full potential. 

Quiet Time Provides Us a Chance to Do Better

The story of Enos from the Book of Mormon is one of the most significant examples of the blessings of finding peace. After retiring to a quiet place, Enos spent time in prayer to repent of his sins. His choice has led him to identify his weaknesses and shortcomings. Ultimately, he gained forgiveness of all his sins, and received treasured revelation from the Lord to guide his life.

When we’re free from the noise of the world, we have more time to reflect on our choices. We see our weaknesses more clearly, as well as our need for guidance and heavenly help. By choosing to make room for peace in our lives, we increase our capacity to better our choices, our actions, and our goals. 

Finding Peace Amidst the Busy Scenes

Finding peace is easier said than done. To find peace and quiet in our lives, we must make the decision to turn our backs to not-so-worthwhile activities and focus more on spending our hours in reflection and meditation, and on things that have eternal value. When making our to-do lists, let’s not forget to add “Find peace” to the list – it just might be one of the best things we can give to ourselves. 

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