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BODY & SOUL 55 “One personal benefit of this challenging time could be that a person explores the great traditions of coping with challenges and leading a good life,” he said. “Buddhism provides a roadmap for wellbeing, which many non-Buddhists have experienced through meditation and mindfulness practices (see: spiritualityandpractice.com/ practices/features/view/28853/spiritual-practices-for-the- coronavirus-pandemic). For a Buddhist approach to the current pandemic, see: tricycle.org/trikedaily/coronavirus-meditations.” Professor Murray says Buddhism is a process philosophy that emphasises impermanence, flow and the interconnectedness of living things. He quotes the Dalai Lama saying: “It is because our own human existence is so dependent on the help of others that our need for love lies at the very foundation of our existence. Therefore, we need a genuine sense of responsibility and a sincere concern for the welfare of others.” Professor Murray cites the Stoic philosophers as offering great comfort when life is challenging. He recommends listening to Stoic mediation at: modernstoicism.com/wp- content/uploads/2016/09/View-from-Above-Download.mp3. The Stoics, he says, emphasise courage as a virtue and encourage people to maintain focus on what they can control in difficult times. Examples are: Epictetus: “Some things are within our power, while others are not. Within our power are opinion, motivation, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever is of our own doing; not within our power are our body, our property, reputation, office, and, in a word, whatever is not of our own doing.” Seneca: “The storm does not interfere with the pilot’s work, but only with his success ... It is indeed so far from hindering the pilot’s art that it even exhibits the art; for anyone, in the words of the proverb, is a pilot on a calm sea.” Referring to the pandemic, Professor Murray says that because it’s easy to become overwhelmed in the torrent of crisis discussions online, people should choose a quality source and ‘check in’ only once a day. “If others are excited to discuss the pandemic when you’ve had enough, be assertive about not participating,” he said. “If you find yourself going down the rabbit hole on social media, try these tips to stop scrolling: forge.medium.com/how- to-kick-a-mindless-scrolling-habit-55b330137887. “The Stoic philosopher Epictetus reminds us: ‘Other people’s views and troubles can be contagious. Don’t sabotage yourself by unwittingly adopting negative, unproductive attitudes through your associations with others’.” On a more mundane level, Professor Murray says routine is critical to wellbeing, as well as pleasures such as our pets or a good movie. Also very important is focusing on others, he adds, because people feel less stressed when they have this orientation. “Cultivate gratitude for what you do have, and empathy for the challenges of others, which can be like a breath of fresh air,” Professor Murray said. “To learn about the skill of gratitude, see: psychologytoday.com/au/basics/gratitude. “People find if they keep to their own personal ‘values compass’, life continues to be meaningful and rich despite misfortune.” However, Professor Murray advises a person to seek help if negative emotions or thoughts are interfering with their everyday life. For an overview of mental health assistance in Australia, he suggests visiting: healthdirect.gov.au/mental-health-disorders. “A GP is also a good starting point,” he said, “and you can also make contact with professionals via the web, with phone- based options for a range of audiences found at beyondblue. org.au/get-support/national-help- lines-and-websites.” Professor Murray also advises that online psychological treatments can be accessed free of charge at mindspot.org.au and mentalhealthonline.org.au, and at thiswayup.org.au for a low cost, while local psychologists can be found at psychology. org.au/Find-a-Psychologist. When a person is in an emergency or at risk of immediate harm to themselves and others, emergency services can be contacted on 000. Also of value, Professor Murray says, is keeping an eye out for the “gold nugget” – or the major “benefit in going through difficult, even overwhelming experiences”. This is because, he adds, half of people who have a traumatic experience report post-traumatic growth. “This pandemic will not be traumatic for everyone by any means, but being thrown out of our routines can help us learn new things about ourselves and how we cope with life,” he said. “In three years’ time, looking back on 2020, what new habits, insights, behaviours will you identify as personal benefits of this event? What do you think we, as a society and a global community, might say was the gold nugget in the pandemic?” “Being thrown out of our routines can help us learn new things about ourselves and how we cope with life.” RETAIL PHARMACY ASSISTANTS • AUG 2020