A moment at a time

Let’s get reacquainted The puzzle of life

A moment at a time

Are you having a rough day today? I know we’re all going through something. Don’t allow anyone to minimize how you feel. Yes, sometimes looking around and realizing that there’s people around us whose misfortune looks a lot more severe helps us put our problems in perspective. That doesn’t make your problems any less real or important.

Phrases like:

Relax, everything is going to be alright. This too shall pass

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Those words, even if you believe them, do not bring immediate comfort to your anxiety. You think, how can I see that it will be ok, when I can’t get past right now. The great thing about faith and history is that they can reframe our anxiety.

Stop to think, when have you been in a similar situation and how it was resolved. Did God come through for you? I’m sure he did. Because even when the answer to your prayer may have been “No”, with time you have come to realize that it was best for you. Faith is the ability to trust what we don’t see. Are you able?

Amid storms, it’s hard some time to step out of the boat and walk on water. It’s sometimes even hard to breathe.

Let me tell you a story of something that happened to me some years ago. I honestly can’t remember why I was anxious that day. I had a lot going on, but I do know how I got through that day and made it.

There’s a portion of the extended serenity prayer that says: “Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time”. That day I focused on that verse. I remember I was on my way to work when I became overwhelmed with anxiety due to whatever circumstances I was dealing with. I told myself that there was nothing I could do while sitting in my car. I decided to focus on driving.

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It was the morning rush, so you can imagine the amount of traffic I was facing. Sometimes when my anxiety levels are very high, I can’t even listen to music; any noise annoys me. In other occasions, is the opposite, I start playing music and sing very loud. I don’t care if I’m ridiculously dancing. It gets the anxiety kicked out. This particular morning was one of those where noises were not part of the plan. Focusing on traffic was not going to help, but there was nowhere to go. So, I focused on my surroundings.

How many times have you driven down a road without noticing things? We’re going so far and focused on our destination that we miss a lot of what’s around us. That day I saw businesses that I didn’t know where on my commute. I noticed trees and trash on the highway. I wondered, how and when that trash would be picked up? By the time I made it to work, I hadn’t resolved a thing, but I could think more clearly. I have also gained insight into things I hadn’t noticed before.

So, if you’re having the kind of day where you can’t get past the next five minutes, DONT. Don’t think about what is going to happen five minutes from now. Focus on what’s immediately in front of you. After that, focus on what’s immediately in front of you at that time. Do tasks one at a time. You may think that you’re slowing down, but the reality is that you’re accomplishing something that you were not doing at all, while paralyzed with anxiety.

Take a breath, what haven’t you noticed around you. It may or may not have the answer to your problem, but it could give you a new perspective.