The world offers many different strategies for coping with ones negative feelings, some choosing a therapist, while others choose meditation, music or any other form of relaxation one might find effective in the battle against the blues.
In my case, the therapist would themselves need therapy after I unload my struggles, and my brain is often running in overdrive, leaving meditation at the nearest rest stop. While I do listen to music every day as a part of my unbluing regime, the only true form of strategy I actively employ for wrangling any negative feelings, is writing!
You may be asking, what about prayer or reading Gods word? If you have fully read ANY of my writings, I pray it would be blatantly obvious, as to how much prayer and study time that went into the words found on the pages. If I’m not in constant prayer and continuously renewing my mind in God’s word, there would not be a writing for you to read, if that makes any sense.
I pray to my Creator, I read the living scripture He’s given me, and I speak His name as often as I can. This is done through my writing, as I do not happen upon actual people, from day to day, so my out loud conversations are usually only with HIM!
Why does this work so well for me, you ask? Well, many of my negative feelings actually come from loneliness and isolation, that’s why! Personally, no therapist can help here, unless they wish to become my friend and visit with some regularity… that means being my friend without getting paid for the effort!
At the heart of everything, the cause of anyone needing to have any strategies for coping with negative feelings… is not feeling loved! I’ve written time and again how important love is and how it should work. Again, I’m hoping you saw my operative word up above… I started that sentence with my own coping mechanism… I write. Writing not only helps me, but others as well, because every time I write for you, I’m trying to give you my love!
Whatever strategy you choose for your own coping with negative feelings, you’ll know it’s the right one for you, if it bears fruit in your life, as well as those you encounter!
Anxiety you say? Meet IBS and Fibromyalgia, my two Frenemies! It seems years since we met but they are now permanent residents in my house. When I was in my mid 30’s, I met my first Frenemy, IBS. She met up with me during a difficult time in my life, and though I was not a fan of her attention getting behavior, I wanted to help her feel better. She had a tendency, though, to always make a big deal out of every crisis or situation and she would have these episodes where I would have to stay home with her for days. As the months turned into years, our relationship evolved and deepened, sometimes for the better, but most often not so fun. Long story short, I finally came to better terms with her for a time, and I made the mistake of telling her that if she wanted to feel better, she should make friends. The next thing I knew, she showed up with a new friend…Fibromyalgia!
Well, I am not one to give up on someone, so I not so willingly welcomed her in as well. It has been a lot of years since they joined me, but I have discovered a secret! By understanding, feeling compassion, giving mercy and showing myself some grace, the three of us exist together. IBS just needed someone to listen to her instead of lecturing her or trying to fix her all the time. Fibromyalgia just needed tender loving care and understanding of why she hurt so much. Anxieties will always be with us in a world that is messed up but still beautiful if we can look…My frenemies and I continue on as a team to tackle and overcome whatever anxiety or obstacle is in our path. I discovered that they have become a part of me and I them, my frenemies that is, and when the ugliness of things in the world push in on me, they are there beside me pushing back! Thanks Girls! I love you both! You are helping me become something better not worse.
Journey With Me! 