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Staying in the Present
This was a tough week, both micro and macro. At its worst moments, I tried to stay clear of disappointments from the past and anxiety about the future and focus on now. I managed that about 20% of the time. How was it for you?
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Macro felt damn near intolerable. Micro, OK but confusing at times. Some lovely unexpected connections helped.
News of last week’s macro is over. And now we have to live with it. Ugh.
Big or small, I keep inspirational reminders all around me because it is hard. The website tiny buddha helps me. And a lot of deep breathing. I can’t really put a number on it; I have no idea what normal feels like! 🙂
My favorite remedy is the 24 hour unplug and reboot, which I do every Friday night. It really helps to take a worry day off.
Oh, Wendy, I feel for you. My week was stressed (significant upcoming deadlines), not the in a foreboding, dark-night-of-the-soul way. But I’ve had those and it’s tough. Sometimes reaching out doesn’t help–whether too mired in regret or anxiety or (more often the case) not feeling that anyone would understand. And your 20% rate is about right, as well.
Have to admit I sometimes go to silly or feel-good websites (e.g. HuffPo’s Third Metric) in search of something more hope-inducing. It can help (as does aerobic exercise or meditation, although I often have a hard time getting “into” it–that said, I’ll just sit and if the thoughts crowd into my head, well so be it). It eventually passes, though usually not fast enough!
I like the image you posted, but I wonder if I’ve really learned my lessons from the past.
This weekend, I went to the sci-fi movie, Interstellar. I liked getting off the planet for a few hours.
Macro was tough (work deadlines and constant threat of layoffs!), micro was mostly OK, thank goodness. Tried to maximize joy from the small moments and just keep breathing – one moment at a time.
Hopefully both your micro and macro worlds have improved since your post.
Way better spirits this week. I like your strategy. Thanks, Kathy.