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
This Post Has One Comment
Love the great reminders and as always your honesty.