After a tough few days emotionally (what can I say, grief is dynamic sometimes... so is disappointment) where I let myself just BE sad... which is healthy too... I noticed my regular buoyancy wasn't returning...maybe because the hits seemed to keep coming. So I did things that are in my unconscious plan of how to trigger GOOD feelings.
I am almost always talking to God. What can I say? Most of my time is spent alone and often times in prayer, and I think he speaks to me as I am guided to a Bible verse (typically not the reference, but the actual words), or my mind can't leave a bit of worship music alone, etc. which does bring comfort. But sometimes? Sometimes I still find myself stuck where I don't find comfort there. I hope I'm not alone in this, and I don't mean that God doesn't comfort, but I think that maybe there are times he brings us comfort in ways that aren't just found in the pages of the Bible.... or, am I alone in not always finding comfort there?
For me, when I'm really in a tough spot I have found the following list to be rather helpful. Mind, they aren't in any particular order and sometimes it takes more than just one of these things to snap me back into really remembering who holds me, who guides me... and it sure isn't the woman who looks out of my mirror. So, this is my list of 'get back on track.
1) Find someone who can hear me without trying to "fix it".
-I seriously complained and cried with a friend for an hour. After the tears were dry, she and I just laughed about the stuff we've been through lately... and then silly writers who also look at life a bit askew. All of that helped.
2) Be wildly creative
-I am ridiculously blessed with a very creative job. I went out and did something new and interesting. It might not sell, but I'll have fun trying. Bonus? Tastes good! I often write when I'm in this space. Sometimes just clearing the decks is helpful.
3) Make sure I am eating enough.
- I'm not sure if this is just a grief/depression thing, but I forget to eat when I am not in a good headspace. A decent meal of protein and veggies helps so much.
4) Take a nap.
-No one will ever convince me that God didn't invent the nap for the adult human. A 20 minute shut-eye will often head off a minor depression because of overwhelm. I have found too, that I sleep MUCH better the night I have taken a nap during the day. I don't know if it takes the physical edge off or what.
So... what do YOU do to deal with your stress, disappointment, sadness, and/or grief?
I am almost always talking to God. What can I say? Most of my time is spent alone and often times in prayer, and I think he speaks to me as I am guided to a Bible verse (typically not the reference, but the actual words), or my mind can't leave a bit of worship music alone, etc. which does bring comfort. But sometimes? Sometimes I still find myself stuck where I don't find comfort there. I hope I'm not alone in this, and I don't mean that God doesn't comfort, but I think that maybe there are times he brings us comfort in ways that aren't just found in the pages of the Bible.... or, am I alone in not always finding comfort there?
For me, when I'm really in a tough spot I have found the following list to be rather helpful. Mind, they aren't in any particular order and sometimes it takes more than just one of these things to snap me back into really remembering who holds me, who guides me... and it sure isn't the woman who looks out of my mirror. So, this is my list of 'get back on track.
1) Find someone who can hear me without trying to "fix it".
-I seriously complained and cried with a friend for an hour. After the tears were dry, she and I just laughed about the stuff we've been through lately... and then silly writers who also look at life a bit askew. All of that helped.
2) Be wildly creative
-I am ridiculously blessed with a very creative job. I went out and did something new and interesting. It might not sell, but I'll have fun trying. Bonus? Tastes good! I often write when I'm in this space. Sometimes just clearing the decks is helpful.
3) Make sure I am eating enough.
- I'm not sure if this is just a grief/depression thing, but I forget to eat when I am not in a good headspace. A decent meal of protein and veggies helps so much.
4) Take a nap.
-No one will ever convince me that God didn't invent the nap for the adult human. A 20 minute shut-eye will often head off a minor depression because of overwhelm. I have found too, that I sleep MUCH better the night I have taken a nap during the day. I don't know if it takes the physical edge off or what.
So... what do YOU do to deal with your stress, disappointment, sadness, and/or grief?