Extra Patience Needed: Take the Long View

Lots of people will be going through rough times over the next few years. It isn't just financial waters, either. Stressful changes in business, climate, energy, learning and education, and more will be taking their toll. Change is happening rapidly, and change is stressful. Stress causes health problems, and healthcare is another problem area right now, which adds more stress.

We've got hot soup here we are all sitting in here these days, and people are going to be freaking out here and there. People will be stressing out, and they will be showing more fits of anger and upset, that many times may not fit with the character you know them to be. Some will burst forth earlier, others will later as years of stress wear away at them.

When this happens, keep your cool. Let them express, be angry, and have their say. No need to break up friendships,  disown relatives, write-off business partners or quit jobs because of it. Especially if their outburst or sudden change in communications puzzles you. It isn't you, it's them. Not everyone handles stress in the same way, and different people will pop at different things, under different domains of stress.

So take the long view: realize that we are in a long winter, people will be getting cranky and cold, and that they'll feel better in the economic spring, several years from now. You just can imagine all the stress, problems, fears, hardships, lifestyle changes, health issues, financial challenges, etc. that they might be facing and experiencing right now. So go easy on people. While you certainly don't have to coddle them or try to help them through (unless that would be appropriate as a brother, sister, etc.), you don't have to erupt into a counter-tirade, get defensive or poke at them, either.

Know that things will get better in time. Know that they are going through rough times, and may well still be cool in the future. Think of things on a 10-year timeline rather than what they said today, and take the long view. Be a long-term friend, a smart friend, a reference and a kind and understanding example friend.

It'll help them, and it'll help you be a winter fire of light and warmth.