All Psyched Up: Be wise!

By Linda Hancock on July 12, 2025.

So often I hear people talk about how their world feels upside down and they are facing disastrous circumstances. Then I start asking questions. Usually by the time that I get to the third question the reply is: “I don’t know”. That tells me that the person is jumping to conclusions without having all the information needed to make an informed decision.

I am sure that we all remember the children’s story about Chicken Little who had an acorn fall on his head and assumed that the sky was falling. He panicked and decided that he needed to go and tell the King. Along the way, he met friends Ducky-Lucky, Henny-Penny who were easily convinced of the validity of this and decided to travel with him to fulfill the quest.

Of course, the sky wasn’t falling and even if it was, what on earth could the king do about it?

Let’s examine some of the things that might be acorns in your life:

1. Politics: When I grew up news was broadcast for twenty minutes at noon and another twenty minutes at six o’clock. Now, the age of technology allows 24-hour cycles of “opinions” – not news!

We all know that “what bleeds leads” meaning that in order to get attention the media and podcasters have to grab our attention with shocking statements and headlines. Just because you see or hear that some spectacular event is going to occur, doesn’t mean that it is going to happen! Don’t jump to conclusions!

2. Health: Being referred to a specialist because your Family Physician wants testing does not mean that you are dying! What used to be a very serious procedures can now just be merely a “second look”. Many people freak out thinking the very worst is going to happen before they ever even get into the specialist’s office! And there are times that a diagnosis is made that doesn’t even require treatment – just monitoring. Don’t bury yourself before you die!

3. Finances: Many times, we are frightened when we think we will have an upcoming reduction in income. An unexpected invoice might arrive in the mail, or we begin to realize that there are necessary expenses for things that we just didn’t consider or include in our budget.

It is not the end of the world! Start by getting quotes, examining options, negotiating terms and making adjustments. Think about the “dirty thirties”, stock market crashes and economic inflationary times or unemployment periods that have occurred in the past. You made it through all of these. You will make it through this new challenge, too!

4. Relationship problems: Just because someone is rude or says “I’m done” doesn’t mean they are done. Patience, communication and forgiveness can fix a lot of impulsive statements and, if issues have been occurring for a period of time, there are always great professionals to help.

Let’s go back to the king for a minute. Suppose Chicken Little and his friends did arrive at the castle and did manage to get into the throne room (highly unlikely). What do you think the King would do?

He would likely ask a lot of questions, do some research (or have his royal knights investigate) before making a final decision about what to do.

Maybe it would be a good idea, when you face the next unexpected happening, to think about this and decide to act like the King rather than Chicken Little. Could save you a lot of time and worry!

Dr. Linda Hancock, the author of “Life is An Adventure…every step of the way” and “Open for Business Success” is a Registered Psychologist who has a private practice in Calgary. She can be reached by email at office@drlindahancock.com

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