We have all had one of those days that just beats you down. You get home and want nothing more than to take a hot shower to wash away the yuck, crawl under your covers, and forget the day happened.
We wake up the next day, God willing, and start fresh.
But what do we do when there is something that isn’t as easy to wash away with a hot shower or a good night’s sleep?
What if something big enters your life—getting a diagnosis that needs treatment or surgery, the loss of a loved one or a pet, a separation or divorce (fill in the blank here).
“Big happenings can disrupt your life in ways that you can’t imagine if you haven’t experienced it yourself.”
The loss of control over a portion of your life can make you feel like you have lost control of everything.
Not to minimize any big happening, but following the three simple suggestions below can help ground you and give you a sense of control that you may be missing because of what you are going through.
Three Simple Suggestions
1. Auto-pilot the basics
Try to auto-pilot your normal daily activities like showering, brushing your teeth, and making your bed. This may sound silly, but it will help keep you grounded while you are dealing with things you have no control over.
2. Find your tribe
Find your tribe—those people who will help pick up the slack when you are overwhelmed and can’t hold up your end of life.
3. Give the big happening limited space
Make sure you give the big happening space in your mind—but limit it.
Do not let bad thoughts live rent free in your brain.
Think about the big happening and think about concrete ways you are going to handle it. When you start to feel overwhelmed, put it away for a while and think about or do something else to give yourself balance—like washing dishes by hand. It can be a meditative experience and help ground you.
“We can’t control when something big and unexpected enters our life, but we can control how we respond to it.”
Thanks for reading and joining me on this adventure.
