Sometimes I am blinded by the light.
My light.
Sometimes I go to a dark and scary neighbourhood.
In my head.
It’s bleak in there.
I do my best not to visit very often, but sometimes?
The pull is magnetic.
It’s a slippery slope once I’m there, but over the years I’ve discovered a few ways to pull myself out of the dark and off the slope.
How to Resist the Pull
1. Unplug
I step away. From my laptop and phones. I turn off all the ringers, bells and whistles. Simple? Yes. Easy to do? Not so much.
But here’s the thing – it works every time.
“Every step you take is a step away from where you used to be.” – Brian Chargualaf
2. Embrace silence
Silence recharges me like nothing else, and when I’m recharged my thinking shifts from. . .
impossible to I’m possible.
“speak quietly to yourself & promise there will be better days. whisper gently to yourself & console your bruised & tender spirit with reminders of many other successes.” – Mary Anne Radmacher
3. Reach out
While #1 and #2 really work for me, I have to pay attention because they can also be an easy way for me to hide out. Sometimes, they offer the means of escape and when I feel that?
I reach out. I call someone I love and ask for their time and support.
“Notice the little things, somebody is reaching out to you. Qualcuno ti ama. Somebody loves you.”- Ben Sherwood
4. Write it out
Journal, doodle, blog, use a napkin. That part doesn’t matter as much as the act of writing which transports me out of my head and into the present moment, where I can begin to feel the light. . .my Self once again.
There’s no right way to do this. It just takes practice.
“Practice isn’t the thing you do once you’re good. It’s the thing you do that makes you good.” – Malcolm Gladwell
It takes listening to what works for you vs. focusing on what’s wrong with you. There’s no easy fix, no overnight solution, no one right way.
And remember…
“Everything is practice.”- Pele
I used to get frustrated by my mood swings and would wonder why I didn’t have more control over my emotions. Recently, I’ve adopted a new mentality; everything worth doing takes practice. It takes practice to be happy, practice to eat well, practice to become a better writer, practice, practice, practice! If I get a little better with each day, that’s all I need. Bookmarking this post. Loved it.
I so appreciate your comment. I was feeling a little unsure about posting this and yet I think we all need reminders that everything takes practice. And it’s not about making ourselves wrong when we feel those feelings, but finding ways for ourselves that work, so that we can press the reset button.
I used to get frustrated by my mood swings and would wonder why I didn’t have more control over my emotions. Recently, I’ve adopted a new mentality; everything worth doing takes practice. It takes practice to be happy, practice to eat well, practice to become a better writer, practice, practice, practice! If I get a little better with each day, that’s all I need. Bookmarking this post. Loved it.
I so appreciate your comment. I was feeling a little unsure about posting this and yet I think we all need reminders that everything takes practice. And it’s not about making ourselves wrong when we feel those feelings, but finding ways for ourselves that work, so that we can press the reset button.
Admittedly or not, we all have our dark places. We just have to work on making the visit there as short as possible 😉
I loved this:
“impossible to I’m possible”
That’s the key – not resisting that we go there but having the tools to cut our visits short.
Admittedly or not, we all have our dark places. We just have to work on making the visit there as short as possible 😉
I loved this:
“impossible to I’m possible”
That’s the key – not resisting that we go there but having the tools to cut our visits short.
I can relate to this – I also go through strange swings of enthusiasm. I’m lucky in that I never get that low as so many others can.
The noise on the internet is overwhelming, and not all of it is positive. Sometime’s people’s agendas and ideology is ever so subtly present in seemingly innocent ideas, and it literally can hurt us and we might now know about it or know why.
Unplugging is such a great idea, whatever that means to you. I’m really lucky in that I live in the city but there’s a mountain forest literally five minutes walk from my house (it’s a dry bush forest – don’t get too excited). I also try to meditate each day (emphasis on ‘try’) which helps me stay grounded in what’s real.
I know… there is no try…
Sometimes it seems the more I get done, the more positive the feedback, the more intense the swing to the “dark side”. Meditating is another way, although like you, I’m a bit challenged in doing it consistently.
We can only keep trying 😉
There are many ways… you’ll find your way with your open heart and mind. Meditation means concentration – you find that thing closest to the divine, pray, and concentrate on it. Best wishes on your way 🙂
I can relate to this – I also go through strange swings of enthusiasm. I’m lucky in that I never get that low as so many others can.
The noise on the internet is overwhelming, and not all of it is positive. Sometime’s people’s agendas and ideology is ever so subtly present in seemingly innocent ideas, and it literally can hurt us and we might now know about it or know why.
Unplugging is such a great idea, whatever that means to you. I’m really lucky in that I live in the city but there’s a mountain forest literally five minutes walk from my house (it’s a dry bush forest – don’t get too excited). I also try to meditate each day (emphasis on ‘try’) which helps me stay grounded in what’s real.
I know… there is no try…
Sometimes it seems the more I get done, the more positive the feedback, the more intense the swing to the “dark side”. Meditating is another way, although like you, I’m a bit challenged in doing it consistently.
We can only keep trying 😉
There are many ways… you’ll find your way with your open heart and mind. Meditation means concentration – you find that thing closest to the divine, pray, and concentrate on it. Best wishes on your way 🙂
Good advice. Thanks!
Good advice. Thanks!