10-15-2012, 03:51 PM
So the initial uplift I had faded somewhat. I couldn't hold onto that state forever, but that's ok and it doesn't signify any failure on my part. I realized that, in my current situation, I'm going to have days where I'm not feeling too good. I can't force myself to snap out of it, that's not how I feel it works. I'm better off just letting it pass and doing my best to keep moving forward.
I think the most important thing I learned was to be removed from the negative emotions. I understood that in the past, but somewhere along the way I lost it. I recognize the negativity isn't me, it's just a passing thing. I don't try to push it away and I don't give it any more attention, I just let it be there and pass. I've been starting to meditate again, but very short durations or however long I feel like it. Just sitting peacefully and letting whatever comes up be there without doing anything helps remind me that things do come to pass if you don't hold onto them.
And it just got me thinking how I tend to think forward progress is more linear, but it's really got dips and spikes, so I have to remember that. But I think a critical thing I'm now working on is to not take the failure so harshly. I made brownies the other night and I noticed while I was reading the directions I was so intent on not screwing up anything like adding too much water or something. So I stopped myself and said even if the brownies came out less than good it's not the end of the world. That's when I realized how out of control my anxiety can be some times, worried about screwing up brownies. I'm starting to wonder if some of that is due to my childhood. I was always very careful about not making a mistake in the house otherwise my dad could fly off the handle and start yelling. But it was never a constant thing, he just didn't deal with stress well and bottled it all up, so one thing could just set him off. I just always feel like there are huge consequences if I screw something up, when realistically there isn't.
I think the most important thing I learned was to be removed from the negative emotions. I understood that in the past, but somewhere along the way I lost it. I recognize the negativity isn't me, it's just a passing thing. I don't try to push it away and I don't give it any more attention, I just let it be there and pass. I've been starting to meditate again, but very short durations or however long I feel like it. Just sitting peacefully and letting whatever comes up be there without doing anything helps remind me that things do come to pass if you don't hold onto them.
And it just got me thinking how I tend to think forward progress is more linear, but it's really got dips and spikes, so I have to remember that. But I think a critical thing I'm now working on is to not take the failure so harshly. I made brownies the other night and I noticed while I was reading the directions I was so intent on not screwing up anything like adding too much water or something. So I stopped myself and said even if the brownies came out less than good it's not the end of the world. That's when I realized how out of control my anxiety can be some times, worried about screwing up brownies. I'm starting to wonder if some of that is due to my childhood. I was always very careful about not making a mistake in the house otherwise my dad could fly off the handle and start yelling. But it was never a constant thing, he just didn't deal with stress well and bottled it all up, so one thing could just set him off. I just always feel like there are huge consequences if I screw something up, when realistically there isn't.