Spring Break has come to an end. It was great. Hikes and sunshine and good books and family. A combo that’s completely uplifting and satisfying and i’m so thankful for it. I don’t take it for granted for a second.
Another treasure about down time is the chance to do a lot of thinking about things that i otherwise continue to push off.. maybe because avoidance and procrastinating are two things i really rock at. No really..i’m good at both of em…but possibly with some sliver of good reason:
Managing anxiety in my personal life has meant that over-thinking things can be a fatal error in keeping healthy. I have learned (ok its a continuous work in process!) that sometimes i need to process or tackle things in chunks rather than the whole kit and caboodle.
Some of you have recently asked what some specific ways i help manage anxiety are …this is def one of them.
An example of this would be looking at the calendar during a busy month (APRIL!). Instant freak out! Seriously, it’s full bore red flags, raging sirens, the uneasy feeling in my belly creeps in and i’m pretty much throwing in the towel before I’ve even begun. I succumb to failure without giving so much as a thought that i might actually be capable.
Here is the time to resurrect an old adage, “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.”
Because i typically find it hard to do on my own, i am getting better at putting pride aside and sharing my worries, whether it’s schedule oriented or more often that not, worry about the worry…anxiety. Sharing the burden with Scott or another trusted soul has been a pivotal tool that i come back to so very often. There’s immense comfort in being transparent. And knowing that there’s no judgement. For some reason, it allows me to judge myself less. Huge anxiety buster.
These past two weeks i’ve sorted a lot out in my brain…and have talked a lot out too…one chunk at a time. Now to continue along in that vein as the routine starts up again. That’s the challenge.
For my friends who are struggling with coping with anxiety and panic and worry right now, my hope is that you can kick over-thinking to the curb this very week. Help tackle the worries by taking one” bite” at a time. And gift yourself by allowing a trusted person in your life to lighten your load by listening to you and walking alongside you.
I’m willing to bet you won’t regret it. xoxo
