It Could Be Worse
How many times have you said those words? I swear I have, a million times when life has knocked me flat.
SOMETIMES LIFE ROLLS LIKE THIS...
Your tests are back and the Dr. has bad news.
The mortgage papers have been signed as you received news of losing your job.
Your partner decides to call it quits right before Christmas.
Your bank account has hit zero and your bills are double stacked.
So, yes we know even the studies confirm gratitude is good for our health.
But here’s the deal, some days, life feels like crap. We have been slammed, can’t stop crying, don’t know where to turn.
YES, IT’S TRUE THINGS COULD ALWAYS BE SO MUCH WORSE.
It’s true, things could always be worse, and we do have much to be grateful for. This time of year reminds us, even more, how lucky we are.
However, before we start glossing over the serious challenges, many of us are facing these days, my hope is that we are, first, taking the time we need to be with our emotions. Because the last thing we need is to have is our buried grief, anger or fear hijack our dreams.
Don’t get me wrong, I am not down on thankfulness, but I have great concerns about how much we (especially women) have a way of playing down the tough stuff, biting our stiff upper lips and shoving our feelings out of sight.
How we resist getting snotty, screaming out the rage and allowing the shivers of fear to shake our core.
Because what happens is, when we don’t own those emotions, allow them to become untethered and have their way with us, things like gratitude can become hollow, dutiful and like a band-aid that’s lost its grip.
SO HERE’S A DIFFERENT CHALLENGE FOR THE HOLIDAY SEASON.
Stop every once in a while and notice the world around you. Then, notice what you feel inside. Pause long enough to touch into the emotions you are feeling and follow their sensations.
Chances are, slowing down enough to let overwhelming feelings find their way to the surface helps them soften their grip and can keep them from sabotaging your physical, spiritual or emotional health.
Which is exactly what happened to me (you can find my story here) and why I am now a big fan of feeling into emotions, reaching out for support and not isolating when overwhelmed.
In fact, in my video series 12 Days of Calm, I have recorded some of the many tools from my book, to help you support your inner world when it feels like the outer world has taken you out with a sledgehammer.
It’s not too late to join the group, send me a message here if you want access to the videos. And if life is just too busy right now to fit in watching the recordings, no worries, we’ll be turning them into a course that will be available on my website soon.
I'd also like to share a dreamy ballad that happens to be my all-time favourite Christmas song.
Next time, instead of saying 'it could be worse,' know it's ok to say your heart feels broken and you are afraid.
GRATITUDE IS BEAUTIFUL, OUR EMOTIONS ARE TOO.
Frosty blessings, from my heart to yours,
Sandy
#bereal