• Apr 18, 2023
Yesterday was one of those days that started out great, had a very low spot and then ended on a good note. The low spot was my challenge for the day. The phone call was one which evoked some very strong emotions.
Negative ones.
Fear.
Anxiety.
Including the physical fear response. It wasn’t pleasant.
I understand why I reacted this way. I didn’t like it. I felt like the other still had control over me. Well that isn’t true of course, but so much of our emotional response to stimuli isn’t anchored in logic. Our lizard brain kicks in, assumes control, and directs our body to do everything necessary to run or fight. The rest of it is for my therapist and I to work through.
So why am I telling you this? Because of what came after the low point. We have more control over how we feel that we often believe we do. After I pounded out my discomfort with my sister and my aunt, I started to feel the relief valve blow. And then I was playing my guitar. Listening to music.
And I ended the evening with a discussion about electrolysis with a nice woman, whom I have only met online. And I went to bed happy. Content. At peace.
Challenges are challenges because we react to the situation because we don’t know what to do - we have never seen it before and have no experience with it, or because the stimulus generates such a strong emotional response, our body assumes control over our logical mind and we just do. There are probably other reasons too.
But we can choose how we feel after those challenges. We can let the negative emotions rule the rest of the day, or decide to try and learn from what happened and not do it again, or work through how we can respond differently next time.
I choose every day to go to bed feeling happy, content; at peace. I am happy with who I am and where I am in life. I have pride in myself and not just what I have done. I respect myself as a human being; as a woman and I will treat others how I want to be treated. I am confident.
I am at peace with me. With my soul. With my universe.
This is why we have challenges. To remind us we can overcome what seem to be the most difficult things, walk away, and have gratitude and thanks.