Sometimes the subtle, low intensity stress that comes with living abroad can really get to you. I woke up this morning feeling stupid and alone and mostly angry. Normally I count on the few friends I have here to lift my spirits but last night I just felt like an outsider to them. My best and most important support person is a million miles away and we only get to talk a couple times a week at best. I kept holding on to these things today so it was all around negative.
But when I got home today I checked out a website called ZenHabits and they suggested a great video. It really did brighten my day.
Dwelling on the past destroys me. I get stuck there and I can't enjoy the present. I have to remember to stop and take time to release the stuff that blackens me. The best way I've know to do this is to make simple observations of things around me. I have to keep from narrating my thoughts to myself. I think the internal dialogue distracts me from the basic experience. For instance today I sat still and looked at the mountain and the flowers. I still couldn't quite force out thoughts I didn't want so I decided to sketch what I saw. Nothing quite pushes everything else out like trying to sketch something.
I am the same way. When that feeling of being overwhelmed by the world hits, doing something creative usually drives it away.
I've also found that sitting down and writing a check to a relative, say a relative (maybe an Uncle?) in a faraway place like, I don't know ... Texas? ... often makes me feel better too. Don't be afraid to send in the entire bank account either.
I know exactly what you mean. A mood can control me if I let it. Some things that help me are to first look at it objectively, that is, step outside of yourself and look at this thing (unattached) as being real, maybe even humorous, but transitory and certainly not defining of who you are - difficult to explain, but it works.
The other thing that works for me is to turn attention from myself and do something selfless for another person. Focusing on doing someting for another puts things into perspective. I agree too that using creativity helps as well - it transfers it from the mind to something physical, a technique that also works with insomnia (writing down your fears) and stress. Displacing it means it doesn't own you.
2 comments:
I am the same way. When that feeling of being overwhelmed by the world hits, doing something creative usually drives it away.
I've also found that sitting down and writing a check to a relative, say a relative (maybe an Uncle?) in a faraway place like, I don't know ... Texas? ... often makes me feel better too. Don't be afraid to send in the entire bank account either.
I know exactly what you mean. A mood can control me if I let it. Some things that help me are to first look at it objectively, that is, step outside of yourself and look at this thing (unattached) as being real, maybe even humorous, but transitory and certainly not defining of who you are - difficult to explain, but it works.
The other thing that works for me is to turn attention from myself and do something selfless for another person. Focusing on doing someting for another puts things into perspective. I agree too that using creativity helps as well - it transfers it from the mind to something physical, a technique that also works with insomnia (writing down your fears) and stress. Displacing it means it doesn't own you.
Love ya!
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