A way to frame this exercise is to understand stress in a different way. Another useful part of the approach is to remember the fundamental nature of mind. So, the easiest, quickest way to think about it is to remember the blue sky, that idea that even when we’re really stressed, even when there are lots of thoughts around, a lot of difficult emotions, underneath all that is still this place of calm and clarity.
That has such a big impact on the way we approach the exercise. If we can sit with the confidence that that is the case and rather than trying to create something, we’re just letting go of those difficult thoughts and feelings. It changes the dynamic completely. It allows the exercise to work effectively and really help us understand stress and change our perspective of it.
- Headspace, Letting Go of Stress, Exercise 24
I have been pretty leveled by the stress of the situation with my parents.
I’m definitely being brought up short by the intensity of it all, how it’s affecting my body mainly. I’ve had this anger that needs to go away.
I’m saying my slogans and adding new ones. The last one to add is, “Don’t take this personally.”
My One is all up in arms about the injustice of everything that’s happening. I’m a planner and I think part of my focus on planning is to try and ward off bad things from happening. It’s inevitable that I won’t succeed 100% of the time. Bad things are still swirling around and happening, but my efforts will keep them from being broke and have no options.
I will still probably end up spending a lot of my own money taking care of them. That’s just the way it’s going to be. Somehow, that’s going to be okay, and I’ll have the money.
How I go through this and what I learn is going to be everything for me in terms of my future and survival with this history of stress.
One thing I continue to read and ponder is this idea that every thought is a new thought. You have patterns from your old thoughts and feelings, but every moment is a chance to change how you think and feel and view the world.
That’s powerful stuff right there.
What have I learned so far?
I’ve been too angry about the situation with my parents. I’ve been enraged and haven’t been able to let reality be part of the equation. This isn’t going to be tidy, and it will continue to be messy. I’ve been shooting for a bar that is unattainable when other people so far at least have been completely in control of the situation. I’ve had to work in the background and try and get things moved down the court.
It is going to be challenging to move them, and there will continue to be challenges when we get them there. It’s just going to be challenging until they’re gone. They will be safer and receive better care in a new place, but they will lose some things as well that will be hard for them. It’s still a net gain, but not perfect.
So somehow, I have to remember the following:
I didn’t do anything to create this situation
I can’t completely fix it all
It’s not a crisis
It isn’t a war
There are no villains
Don’t take it all personally
On another note, I’m in San Fran with KT, staying in a nice AirBB. She’s here on work and asked me to come join her. I find that kind of amazing and wonderful. I guess I haven’t completely failed. I hope we can have some talks and want to communicate some things and mainly listen if we have time.
I’m visiting three clients this week so far. Looking forward to doing it. I brought food items down from the state and proud to do that. I believe it helps connect people with the fact that we’re real and based in a real community with real staff and real workers. In the age of Big Corp Everything, I think it is a huge distinctive when you’re in a service industry. We’re a software company, but we’re selling services. It’s important for us to remember that always.