We all know the story of the Chicken Little, running around saying the sky was falling, when in reality she had been hit on the head by an acorn. The saying, and connotation, of the cartoon has went so far at to have a ‘syndrome’ named after it, called Chicken Little syndrome.
When googling the story and to see exactly what transpired during the tale of Chicken Little, I came across the information of the syndrome when reading about ‘fearmongering’. What in the world is fearmongering? Glad you asked. Fearmongering (whether justified or not) can sometimes elicit a societal response called Chicken Little syndrome, describes as “inferring catastrophic conclusions possibly resulting in paralysis”. It also can refer to “a sense of despair or passivity which blocks the audience from actions”. (This was found on Wikipedia under Henny Penny information).
I feel that we have a lot of Chicken Littles running around fearmongering, and it’s time that we put a stop to it. Do I have fear? Yes, there are things in my life that cause fear. There is fear of the unknown. I have Mutiple Scerolsis, I currently am healthy (for the most part) and have functionality. I see people on a regular basis that are not healthy with functionality. If I allow myself to think about what “can be” or what my future “may look like” I can easily get depressed. Who is going to want someone that can end up in a wheelchair, not able to take care of themselves, and unable to be the other ‘half’ of a relationship? Not many will sign on for such an endeavor. It could cause fear and depression if I allowed myself to think on it.
It is easy to be negative. When I first started my college career at Gateway College (when I thought I wanted to be a teacher) one of my professors (Br Johnston) point blank asked me one day if I realized how negative I was. I was definitely a ‘glass half empty’ type of person. One of the best compliments came when we were on our Senior trip (he was our sponsor) and he told me he was proud of the progress and changes I had made in my life to see the positive side of things. Since that time in my life I try to be positive, think good thoughts, and be more of a ‘glass half full’ person.
{I want to take a moment here to encourage parents, teachers, anyone that has any contact with children to be mindful of your attitude and the words you speak. You can either speak positivity into their life and mind, or negativity. And it can and will affect what type of person they become.}
But anyway…back to the fearmongering. I realize that COVID19 is a virus that is sweeping our nation, and beyond our boarders. I realize that people are dying from it. BUT people are also dying from cancer, diabetes, heart attacks, PE’s, aneurysms, car crashes, violence, and the list goes on. The hyper sensitivity to this one thing has boggled my mind. When you are in the healthcare industry (or any ‘essential job’ currently where you are dealing with the possibility of getting it), TRY TO STAY IN A POSITIVE MIND. Are we going to get sick? Probably. Will there be days when we come in and there are more ventilated people than regular people in our ED? Probably/Maybe. Will we be tired and just want sleep? Probably. Is it going to get worse before it gets better? Probably. Though all of it is true, let us think on good things.
What are good things? Currently we have our health and we are still able to work. We have a team of workmates that are busting their butts just as much as we are, and it’s great that we get to go through this with them. The Bible tells us in Philippians 4:8 to think on these things: whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, and that if there be any virtue or praise. I saw a meme the other day that stated: “Psychology says the cells in your body react to everything that your mind says. Negativity brings down your immune system.” When we are constantly negative, we are allowing the fear and the “sickness” to win because we are bringing down our own immune system by thinking the negative thoughts. Do you know how hard it is to have an onslaught of people saying how bad it’s going to get and they are just “waiting for the day when they come in to every room full of COVID people that are dying”. Who seriously wants to imagine that?
I know this is lengthy, but I hope you can understand where I am coming from. That my soapbox is high enough and I’m saying it loud enough…we must stay positive and keep hope alive or we all will succumb to the darkness. In my daily reading today I was in Ephesians 6. It talked about wearing the armour of God, and when we’ve done everything we can to stand, continue to stand. (Ephesians 6:10-17).
We have been given promises by God that he will not leave us nor forsake us, he loves us beyond measure, and we are His children. That is the truth we need to girt up with. We need to have faith, it will stop the darts of fear and anxiety from penetrating into our lives. If we put on the whole armour daily, we will be able to step away from the fearmongering — from despair.
The moral of the Chicken Little story was to have courage, even when it feels like the sky is falling. Every day when listening to the news we can start thinking that the sky is falling, but in Joshua 1:9 it states “Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for Lord thy God is with thee whithersover thou goest”. God is with us, we do no have to be afraid, He is keeping the sky in place.
Stay positive my friends…God’s got this!!
ERM