I made it to my friend's party Sunday night, and I didn't break down and cry! (...it would have been completely fine if I had, I just managed not to...)
It's Tuesday. I survived my teaching schedule yesterday, which started at 7:45a.m. and ended at 8:45p.m., after 5.5 hours of sleep, and after receiving two texts back-to-back while waiting for my first client at the park where we usually meet for her session: One from my supervisor at the gym letting me know there was a gas leak in the room where I normally teach my 9a.m. barre class, and another from said client I was waiting on, telling me she'd been at the park at 6:45a.m., thinking that's when we were to meet.
Sometimes Mondays are awesome like that, lol!
Today I ran into two friends who both said they are having issues with anxiety this summer. All three of us are in a similar situation...in school...waiting to be placed in an internship, waiting on a miracle to happen for school fees to be paid next month. All three of us also have a history of gluten intolerance, burnout and adrenal fatigue. So very interesting...
So flashback to Sunday, when I was midway to emptying the fridge in attempt to calm my nerves. I realized, as I did the self-check and the steps I described in Part 1 of this series, I needed to make a list of all the things that were weighing on me, and see if there were specific things I can do about each one.
The following is step 4 of how to deal with life when you're battling anxiety and depressions.
Make a list of the things you are responsible for, and make a plan to do those things for at least 10 minutes.
I didn't make it to the gym to lift today, as I'd planned, nor did I yesterday. This is stressing me out. I can take responsibility for that, forgive myself, (this is essential!), and make a plan to get that done tomorrow. I need to go through a box of paperwork, and I've been putting that off, too. As soon as I'm done writing this post, I'm going to do some Pilates mat work to clear my head, and then I'm going to work on that box for 10 minutes. If I'm not through with all the contents of said box in ten minutes, I'm closing it up and planning for 10 minutes tomorrow.
I can't do anything to change my bank balance, or the uncertainty of where I'm going to live in the fall, or my busy work schedule this week, but I can give thanks for my job. I can write in my planner some numbers of leasing agents I can follow up with in my free time tomorrow.
I also cannot change the situations of my friends and family members, but I can give thanks for them. I can pray blessing and peace on their lives. I can reach out to them and send an encouraging message their way, but taking on their pain and staying there, or trying to fix their problems for them is exceedingly unhealthy, not to mention disempowering for both of us.
Take a moment to sit and breathe and digest all that. If you've caught yourself being introspective again, or engaging in behaviors you're less than proud of, take a deep breath, put away the ice cream, and start over. Every second is a chance to re-engage in the adventure of life, free and full of grace for yourself, and others.
Cheers and peace!
xoxo,
Amie
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