How many times have you found yourself caught up entirely in another scary thought, strong feeling, or bodily sensation because it felt more important than usual and therefore worthy of examination? This is really common. We all do it sometimes so don’t beat yourself up when this happens. I did it plenty of times!
Here’s a quick tip that might prove useful when it comes to this particular situation.
Jot down what you’re feeling, thinking, or experiencing. Make a brief note of what you’re afraid of, unsure of, or worried about in that moment. This is not an invitation to sit down and write 5000 words attempting to figure out your anxiety. Just a quick note will do.
Make the title of that note: “This Feels Important!”
Do this before you take your fear to your safe person, friends, family, online support group, or whatever. Keep all your “This Feels Important!” notes in one place in a notebook or on your phone, or whatever works for you. There’s no right or wrong in this.
Over time, you will build yourself a little collection of thoughts, feelings, and sensations that all felt really important at the moment. Can you see where this is going and how this can be a useful tool? When you’ve built your little collection of momentarily important thoughts or feelings, you can refer back to it next time you find yourself in that same situation.
When you have a new thought, feeling, or sensation, go to your “This Feels Important” journal and be reminded of the repeating pattern. When we see our repeating patterns of behavior in black and white, we get a jolt of much needed objectivity and reality. We can use this to help us disengage the gears and jump off the hamster wheel.
Again, it’s important for me to say that I’m not talking about delving into every thought you have and engaging in analysis designed to solve or figure out. This is just a little tool that can help point out what you’re doing so that you can maybe not do it again.
Maybe it will work for you. Maybe it wont’t. But it’s worth at least considering.
Hey it’s Monday and that means that today at 2 PM Eastern I’ll do my “Recovery Monday” livestream on YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter. Come join in!
96. This Thought FEELS Important!