Aaaaack! When life gets messy, my mind goes crazy with cluttered thoughts and my emotions don’t play nice.

Usually I’m not thinking anything about my legacy when that happens. I just want to survive.

But how I handle life’s messes communicates a lot about my values and faith.

People I love notice.

At such times it helps to have a script for your inner self-talk.

You know, a script you can steal that will work for your mess too.

So today I thought I’d share mine with you.

Go ahead… steal this self-talk

I basically use the same self-talk when dealing with “simple messy” to “big messy” problems.

From being overwhelmed by the un-decorating and cleaning up of a house full of Christmas decor…

…to being the emotional and spiritual support for a single daughter who’s just told me she’s pregnant.

(Yep, that happened.)

When life gets messy, tell yourself THIS:

I CAN do this. I’ve dealt with harder things in life, I will do this.

If a pioneer woman can travel across the wilderness in a covered wagon, have a baby during the journey, AND build a log cabin, I can do this.

I don’t have to know everything to get through this. I’ve got Jesus to direct me and other people to advise me.

When I need energy… or wisdom… or another pair of hands, I’ll ask for help.

I CAN DO all things through Christ who gives me strength.

OK, God, what’s the first thing I need to do to get through this?

What’s the second step?

And a third step would be nice to see too, just so I know that one step leads to another and then another until we’ve gotten through this.

That’s it.

That… and a bunch of Scripture promises I keep on a set of flip cards next to my bed.

I just repeat that script off and on until the messy is cleaned up.

And oh, I almost forgot…

I make myself move forward. I put one foot in front of the other and do something.

Christmas decorations were put in boxes and then put in the shed. One BOX at a time.

I talked/cried/prayed and bought baby clothes with my daughter. I did something with my body as well as my mind.

And if you’d like more reading along these lines, check out these posts:

How to move forward when your mind and emotions are stuck

Age gracefully by dealing with your snarly self

How to leave a problem in God’s hands and not steal it back

It works.

Catch you later, Susan