Coping with Uncertainty Faith and Well-being Thurs 29th June 2017

Faith and Well-being January 19th Stress and Health April 27th Supporting others with their well-being June 29th Coping with Uncertainty November 30th Dealing with Awkward Colleagues

Coping With Uncertainty Types and Causes of Uncertainty HSE research Unsettling Uncertainty Classic (unhelpful) Coping Locus of Control A Different Approach

What kinds of uncertainty do we face? Health? Relationship & Family? Business/Job Security? Spiritual? The residential status of EU citizens living in the UK after the effective withdrawal from the European Union after the triggering of Article 50 following the 23rd June 2016 referendum

Research into Stress At Work Role Clarity - uncertainty can lead to confusion and identity issues Change – all change, including positive, can be difficult for us Control - not having control over events or workloads can be stressful See www.hse.gov.uk/stress for more details

Uncertainty unsettles “The market hates uncertainty” Children feel safe with boundaries The Rich Young Man (Matthew 19/Mark 10/Luke 18) The Day and the Hour Unknown (Matthew 24)

Classic Coping methods Constantly seeking reassurance Distraction/Head in the Sand Over-exertion of Control in other areas

Locus of Control Julian Rotter (1916-2014): Internal vs External locus of Control Good events = ability or effort, within my control vs luck or fate, out-with my control Bad events = I didn’t work hard enough vs this was too hard for me/the fault of others Internal Locus of Control is associated with more positive health outcomes and behaviours Self Esteem and Ingroup/Outgroup Bias

A different approach Contingency Planning (If – Then planning) Learning to trust Revisiting Control from a Spiritual Perspective

Learning to Trust Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” 1 Peter 5:7 “Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Matthew 6:25-27  “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?  Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them.  Are you not much more valuable than they?   Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Locus of Control and faith? Q: Is faith in God an internal or external Locus of Control? John 14: 15-18 Jesus promises the Holy Spirit “If you love me, keep my commands.  And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth.  The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.  I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.”

Paul and contentment Philippians 4:12-13 “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”

A Prayer for coping with uncertainty? God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, Courage to change the things I can, And the wisdom to know the difference. ~Amen~

Thank you! January 19th Stress and Health April 27th Supporting others with their well-being June 29th Coping with Uncertainty November 30th Dealing with Awkward Colleagues