The hardest thing to do is nothing. Especially in our fast paced, modern world of distractions. That’s by default but it’s also by design. I know for myself, I especially like to distract myself from myself. More specifically, from feelings I would describe as squirmy. Squirmy feelings that make me feel squirrelly. Feelings of anxiety, inadequacy, uncertainty, fear, doubt, the ones that the itty bitty shitty committee dredge up at two am, just when you’re trying to fall back to sleep. That’s when the committee starts rattling off a list of every foolish choice you’ve made, since you were ten.
So, it’s no wonder we try to distract ourselves with tv, social media, work, busyness, food, mayhem, etc. Certain thoughts and feelings are uncomfortable and can be overwhelming. So, the idea my yoga teacher has suggested, “don’t just do something- sit there”, while amusing, can seem daunting.
But feelings are a package deal. If we ignore or suppress some of them, they go away together. For years, I numbed my feelings of fear, grief and sadness -only to lose my joy, contentment and connection. Without integrating the tough ones, there’s no accessing the pleasant ones.
So, at the moment, I’m feeling a little squirmy. I had an unpleasant experience yesterday on my puppy search, where I got bamboozled (briefly) by a bait & switch. That sucked. But, then the other night, I cried during a chick flick and I had a few really good belly laughs yesterday. I’m grateful I have access to the full range of human emotions and I wouldn’t trade the joy of laughter and the feeling of being fully alive for anything in the world.
❤️