by Carolyn Dickman
I’ve had a couple of calls this month from people going through what they insisted on calling “setbacks” in their progress away from depression and anxiety. I always equally insist that they are called “growth spurts.” It really does all boil down to how we look at it. Doesn’t it?Finding Ways to Manage Stress and Anxiety
We can hang our heads and ask, “Why me?!” Or we can hold our heads up and say, “Why not me?! What’s so much more special about me than anyone else? God doesn’t sit around deciding whom it would be fun to zap today. It must be my turn.”As you know the program doesn’t promise you’ll never have stress and anxiety ever again. What it does promise is that whatever comes your way, you will have the skills to manage stress and anxiety in healthy ways.
Knocking on Heaven's Door
I am reminded of a thought I had a long time ago regarding Mathew 7:7 from the Bible. Many of us are familiar with the bible verse, “Behold, I stand at the door and knock…” It is promised, “Knock and the door shall be opened unto you.” At times I have this visual of people knocking and knocking and knocking in their search for answers about their stress, anxiety, and depression. I always see Jesus opening the door, sweeping His arm in welcome, smiling His welcome… and the ‘knocker’—keeps right on knocking.Putting in the Effort to Overcome Stress and Anxiety
How often do we forget that there must be some effort on our part? We must ‘see’ that the door is open and then we must step up and step in if we are going to recover from stress and anxiety. We must step up and into the grace.Perception Affects the Way We See the World
Speaking of stepping…walking on country roads this time of year can be pretty squishy. My walking partner, better known as my ‘tormenter,’ will not let me get out of my daily walk. Peggy and I were doing our three miles and I accidentally stepped on a cricket- YUCK! This intelligent, educated woman informed me that I had just brought on some bad luck. It seems that in some countries the belief is that the cricket is a symbol of good fortune. They experience a lot of anxiety when they step on a cricket because the future is certainly doomed.Just think about it…little critters that eat your carpets and the clothing in the laundry basket, make scary noises (that’s according to 3-year-old Callie), and are quite ugly (according to me - especially if you step on them), just think, in some places they are revered. That is the belief. They totally believe if they harm that little chirper they will be visited by bad luck. They have a different perspective on the world.
I suppose we could put it in the same category as other folklore…throw salt over your shoulder, don’t step on that crack… Some of us still hold on to beliefs that come without scientific data, proof or logic. Some of us ‘live’ by them, design a life around them, and tell ourselves stories, daily, about them. Some feel anxiety and fear because of them, so they do anything they can to alleviate those “bad” feelings. For example: “If I don’t please everyone no one will love me. A panic attack will kill me. I’m not worth respect. I am unlovable…”
It’s all in the way that you choose to perceive yourself and the world around you.
Tell the truth. Step up and step in. Blessings to all,
Carolyn
