Do you ever feel like your life is a train ride, with the scenery zipping past? There are times when it's fine to just sit back, relax, and stare out the window---to be lulled into a peaceful trance. I love that.
Other times, your life's a train ride and you need to get things done. Groovy things (and not so groovy things) are still buzzing by outside, but you need to pull your attention in and focus on something important. For some of us, it can be daunting to have a million things on our mental to-do list, especially when some of these tasks compete for importance or cause resistance within us. It can be overwhelming, and then we form symptoms.
Last night, I went to bed with a slight headache, and by morning I had a slight headache and had broken out in hives! Oh, heck...time to journal. Whenever I start getting mysterious symptoms, I know it's time to turn my attention inward and get my priorities in order. The writing helped me express the stressed-out feelings in a useful way so that my body didn't have to keep throwing symptoms at me.
Once the emotional venting was out of the way, it was fairly easy to figure out what needed to be done, and in what order and timing. I'm happy to say that the headache and hives have subsided, and I'm now back on track. Not perfect, but balance is restored. I only wish I hadn't let stress build up in the first place. Sigh....
But, you know what? This is a work in progress. We live and we learn. And then we forget and we have to learn it a few more times before it sticks. It's okay. It really is okay.
So, what helps you settle down and focus in on what's important? Maybe you've never really thought about it, but spending a few minutes considering what you've learned through years of trial and error can be a huge help. When you can say to yourself, "I'm getting stressed-out, I'd better go for a walk to clear my head" (or, meditate, make a to-do list, journal, etc), it helps you get back on track much faster than if you didn't have a viable plan ready to go.
All Aboar-rrrrrdd!!
Other times, your life's a train ride and you need to get things done. Groovy things (and not so groovy things) are still buzzing by outside, but you need to pull your attention in and focus on something important. For some of us, it can be daunting to have a million things on our mental to-do list, especially when some of these tasks compete for importance or cause resistance within us. It can be overwhelming, and then we form symptoms.
Last night, I went to bed with a slight headache, and by morning I had a slight headache and had broken out in hives! Oh, heck...time to journal. Whenever I start getting mysterious symptoms, I know it's time to turn my attention inward and get my priorities in order. The writing helped me express the stressed-out feelings in a useful way so that my body didn't have to keep throwing symptoms at me.
Once the emotional venting was out of the way, it was fairly easy to figure out what needed to be done, and in what order and timing. I'm happy to say that the headache and hives have subsided, and I'm now back on track. Not perfect, but balance is restored. I only wish I hadn't let stress build up in the first place. Sigh....
But, you know what? This is a work in progress. We live and we learn. And then we forget and we have to learn it a few more times before it sticks. It's okay. It really is okay.
So, what helps you settle down and focus in on what's important? Maybe you've never really thought about it, but spending a few minutes considering what you've learned through years of trial and error can be a huge help. When you can say to yourself, "I'm getting stressed-out, I'd better go for a walk to clear my head" (or, meditate, make a to-do list, journal, etc), it helps you get back on track much faster than if you didn't have a viable plan ready to go.
All Aboar-rrrrrdd!!
Your Guide to Spiritual Awakening, or Cappuccino for the Soul
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