I've been talking a lot in therapy about the fear of letting things be ok. I'm scared that if I stop overthinking, stop being hyper vigilant, stop looking for the bad and actually just let myself be here now in my life and believe that things are alright, then I'll find out one day that I've got it wrong.
I resonate with this so hard, and you put it into words so well. Not that poetry can solve everything (or anything, sometimes) but when I'm feeling similar, I think of this poem by Mary Oliver. Sending you love and gentleness, and thank you for the reminder to be kind and to let yourself feel safe and feel joy xo
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate.
Give in to it.
There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be.
We are not wise, and not very often kind.
And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left.
Perhaps this is its way of fighting back,
that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world.
It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins.
Anyway, that’s often the case.
Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty.
Thanks for sharing this, Megan. Your last paragraph says it all. And "To just be." It sounds so simple, but in reality, it's one of the hardest things we deal with in life, isn't it?
I just had a conversation last week with my mother, who could win an award for being a prolific over-thinker/worrier. With 4 of us kids, she always has someone to worry about! I try to reason with her and say that overthinking and expecting the worse isn't (and hasn't) served her all these years. She says she hears me, but goes right back to the old habit. It has taken me YEARS to unlearn this dynamic and release the limiting thoughts. I'm so thrilled for you that you have reached this self-awareness and BONUS, are sharing it with us. Sending you much love. XO
Thank you for sharing this topic....I worry about worrying! 🙃 Relaxed living is easy said, but not so much done. This world is stressful, and we're constantly affected by negative and unsettling energy. It's lovely to see you in your happy place at dance classes, and you and Char have some lovely date ideas. May you be blessed with as much joy as you share with the world. ☮️💜
I know for me, as a child and teenager and young adult my life was pretty unpredictable. Never knew quite what was gonna happen next. This was my norm, I probably had a continual flow of adrenaline in my veins. So that’s my default and I feel uncomfortable when things are doing okay and I can relax. I always have to be busy and worry about something. That is the zone I really know and as crazy as it is that’s what I seem to naturally go for and create. Therefore I have to consciously create another way, a stress free chilled way. No catastrophising just enjoyment of life and stillness so that the solutions come up with no sweat 😍😊
Darling you, I can remember believing that if I imagined the worst, it would be an insurance policy to stop the worst actually happening.
Poor lil me, there’s a lot of ‘worsts’ out there if you go looking for them… and meanwhile life unfolds in its own mysterious, sometimes painful, sometimes beautiful way.
These days I don’t deny myself pleasure in the moment, or the delight of anticipation
Oh 100000%. I always say I prepare for the worst in all situations, because then I'm either right (if things go wrong) or pleasantly surprised (if they go right). But I'm then stressing and feeling anxious all the time about things that may never happen and feel unable to live in the present.
I’ve been loving your thoughts you’ve been sharing on this topic, Megan! I think it’s so important because a lot of people get to this point of life actually being okay, and then they end up creating chaos again because they don’t know how to handle things not being crazy all the time. So big kudos to you for sorting through these new, confusing feelings and allowing yourself to find new ways to live and thrive.
I resonate with this so hard, and you put it into words so well. Not that poetry can solve everything (or anything, sometimes) but when I'm feeling similar, I think of this poem by Mary Oliver. Sending you love and gentleness, and thank you for the reminder to be kind and to let yourself feel safe and feel joy xo
If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate.
Give in to it.
There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be.
We are not wise, and not very often kind.
And much can never be redeemed.
Still, life has some possibility left.
Perhaps this is its way of fighting back,
that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world.
It could be anything,
but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins.
Anyway, that’s often the case.
Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty.
Joy is not made to be a crumb.
Thanks for sharing this, Megan. Your last paragraph says it all. And "To just be." It sounds so simple, but in reality, it's one of the hardest things we deal with in life, isn't it?
I just had a conversation last week with my mother, who could win an award for being a prolific over-thinker/worrier. With 4 of us kids, she always has someone to worry about! I try to reason with her and say that overthinking and expecting the worse isn't (and hasn't) served her all these years. She says she hears me, but goes right back to the old habit. It has taken me YEARS to unlearn this dynamic and release the limiting thoughts. I'm so thrilled for you that you have reached this self-awareness and BONUS, are sharing it with us. Sending you much love. XO
Thank you for sharing this topic....I worry about worrying! 🙃 Relaxed living is easy said, but not so much done. This world is stressful, and we're constantly affected by negative and unsettling energy. It's lovely to see you in your happy place at dance classes, and you and Char have some lovely date ideas. May you be blessed with as much joy as you share with the world. ☮️💜
I know for me, as a child and teenager and young adult my life was pretty unpredictable. Never knew quite what was gonna happen next. This was my norm, I probably had a continual flow of adrenaline in my veins. So that’s my default and I feel uncomfortable when things are doing okay and I can relax. I always have to be busy and worry about something. That is the zone I really know and as crazy as it is that’s what I seem to naturally go for and create. Therefore I have to consciously create another way, a stress free chilled way. No catastrophising just enjoyment of life and stillness so that the solutions come up with no sweat 😍😊
Darling you, I can remember believing that if I imagined the worst, it would be an insurance policy to stop the worst actually happening.
Poor lil me, there’s a lot of ‘worsts’ out there if you go looking for them… and meanwhile life unfolds in its own mysterious, sometimes painful, sometimes beautiful way.
These days I don’t deny myself pleasure in the moment, or the delight of anticipation
Sending love, darling honest one xxxx
Oh 100000%. I always say I prepare for the worst in all situations, because then I'm either right (if things go wrong) or pleasantly surprised (if they go right). But I'm then stressing and feeling anxious all the time about things that may never happen and feel unable to live in the present.
I’ve been loving your thoughts you’ve been sharing on this topic, Megan! I think it’s so important because a lot of people get to this point of life actually being okay, and then they end up creating chaos again because they don’t know how to handle things not being crazy all the time. So big kudos to you for sorting through these new, confusing feelings and allowing yourself to find new ways to live and thrive.