I posted the above picture on Instagram yesterday. Those close to me would know that I worry a lot. Sometimes, I feel paralysed by fear and I don't really want to get out of bed. My mind is a really scary place sometimes. I feel like there are 50 of us living in that tiny space alone. And no, I am not schizophrenic or anything, not that I know.
Most of the time, these voices are positive. They yell encouragements and support, but sometimes, they tell me that things aren't ok. "What if this? What if that?" "Do you really thing you should be doing that?" "Owh my goodness, all those people dying. What if that was you?". Yep. It's a big party in my head.
I spoke to Liz last week about these voices in my head and she asked me, have any of my worries ever come true? I said "No. Not really. They are just thoughts in my head. " Then she said something that spooked me a little. "What you think, you become. What you feel, you attract and what you imagine you create," so why do it? Why worry about things that would never come true? Why acknowledge thoughts that doesn't benefit you in any way?
I don't know why I do this to myself though BUT I am changing my ways. What I am doing at the moment is writing down in my little notebook that I carry around with me and write down what is worrying me at that very moment. That way, I acknowledge the thought and it no longer occupy my brain. It's the same thing as decluttering but for your mind. Do I have to go back and read these thoughts? Absolutely not.
Now, I focus my thoughts on things that I can do. Things that I am good at and things I know that can benefit me. I will not let worry rule my day or emotions for the day. If I feel overwhelmed by it, I go out for a run and clear my head. I focus all my energy in finding out ways to solve my problems and if it is something that I can't solve, then I let it go because I can't do anything about it.
Very Zen like no? But, it really works.
Liz sent me this photo for support. I actually said this to her at the end of our session. She asked me what I would say if I was faced with my life worries. "Get to the next tree" is usually what I say when I am running. I tell myself to run to the next tree and the next and the next. It's a great metaphor for life as well.
