Day 34: Reminder to Self

I’ve been high-strung this week. And I’ve spent an awful lot of time this week with my foot in my mouth.

It’s a combination of things, really. Though the stuff on the news is certainly part of what’s going on, it’s not the whole story.

That’s not the point though. This isn’t the first time that life has been challenging, and it won’t be the last. The specific details aren’t what I want to talk about today.

When life gets like this–when my brain is on edge–I have a tendency to react poorly. I’m sure I’m not the only one.

When I get like this, I don’t usually recognize that I’m reacting poorly or understand why I’m reacting poorly until sometime later. In the heat of the moment, I feel justified, like I’m being perfectly reasonable. But in retrospect, I grow embarrassed at my behavior.

So this post is a reminder to self. Here goes:

Reminder to Self: Pay Attention

Pay attention to the condition of your mind.

When your mind is frazzled, when you’re stressed, you overreact and don’t think clearly. So pay attention to the condition of your mind and recognize when you’re on edge.

Reminder to Self: Breathe

Breathing is a physical activity. It’s a centering activity. It helps you get out of your head and into physical reality.

When you pay attention and realize that your mind is struggling to hold it all together, breathe. Close your eyes, clear your mind, take a few deep breathes and focus on them.

Reminder to Self: Wait

Almost nothing is actually as urgent as it feels when you’re stressed. When you’re stressed and your brain is on fire and someone pokes it you feel urgency. However, in this state, you will regret your actions a considerable amount of the time.

So, wait. Give your brain a chance to catch up. Give yourself more time than you think you need. Only react once you’re sure you’ve thought things through.

Reminder to Self: Relax

No one is judging you as harshly as you’re judging yourself. Give yourself some space to be human.

Relax a little.

Featured image by Fabian Møller on Unsplash