Are You Mad at Me?: How to Stop Focusing on What Others Think and Start Living for You

by Meg Josephson

CURIOSITY. Allow curiosity in. Be the observer of your own body and mind. Not in an overthinking, overintellectualizing way but in a grounded, clear manner. Is this thought true? What emotion is this? What bodily sensations am I experiencing right now? Are these sensations pleasant, unpleasant, or neutral? EMBRACE. Embrace this protective part of you, this inner voice, with warmth and understanding. The mind’s tendency is to make us judge ourselves for having an anxious thought (Why am I like this? When will this go away?). We’re working on relating to our inner experience with a bit more compassion. Thank you for trying to protect me. It’s okay that you’re feeling this. It makes sense. You’re safe. RETURN. Return to something that’s real and true right now. This could be the steady rise and fall of your belly as you breathe in and out, a siren you hear in the distance, or a sensation in your body. By gently shifting your focus to what’s happening now, you’re training your mind to return to the present.