Advent Calendar

Mentally stable over the holidays

04.12.2020

The Christmas celebration and family reunion... can also be quite annoying. And under corona conditions it can be a real test of endurance. We asked the Psychological Counselling Centre of the Studentenwerk Oberfranken to tell us how to cope with this stress. Dipl. Psych. Barbara Grüninger-Frost wrote us this:

"'Leuchte, leuchte Weihnachtsstern...", as it says in a German Christmas carol which tells how the star shows the shepherds the way..., but even those who do not believe in the Christmas story do not have to remain without guidance: Lighthouses that are not based on any particular faith are also a source of hope and point the way forward, which we can also erect and light independently and individually for ourselves. Most of us sail around the world and usually have some goal in mind: graduating from high school, running a marathon or raising children, securing our pensions, stopping climate change, being a "good" person. We are guided by cultural norms and dry laws, by religious/spiritual beliefs and sometimes by the statements of psychologically trained interest sellers. But again and again in the course of human "sailing around" we get into storms, into darkness and into loss of orientation. And so, even now, many people will probably find this Corona winter dark and unsettling.

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This is an invitation and opportunity to build a lighthouse yourself - or several - and become your own lighthouse keeper! This is not that difficult, there are only two rules to follow:

1. You can see a high lighthouse better!

So we look for a value that is as high as possible for us, e.g. freedom or serenity or good interpersonal relationships, which can serve as orientation and as a yardstick, and we make it visible by defining it as precisely as possible and talking about it

2. Even a high lighthouse needs a good beacon!

The lighthouse wants to be lit and nourished so that it does its job brightly and radiantly. Every stroke of the oar, every action towards the lighthouse, nourishes the fire in a magical way. Sometimes with small shavings, sometimes with big logs, that is not so important.

So the aim is not to finally arrive at the lighthouse (it's usually a bit boring there), but let's be good lighthouse keepers who make the light bright - maybe even not only for ourselves - pointing the way and giving hope!".

Those who find themselves in urgent need during weekends or holidays can contact the district hospital (0921 2830), the telephone counselling service (0800 1110111) or the Muslim counselling telephone (030 443509821).