Yesterday evening, I realised that a best laid plan was struggling to come to fruition. I won’t get bogged down in the detail of what it was, but suffice to say that I had expended time, energy and money, only to receive some knock backs and an absence of support for my idea. I was annoyed and a bit sad. As a result, what I felt I needed at the time was a big dose of gratitude for who I am, what I have in my life and family and friends who love me, to get me back on track. Could I find any gratitude? Not a chance. It occurred to me (I wondered!) that sometimes the urge for positivity at all costs (some call it Toxic Positivity) can be more draining than sitting with your uncomfortable feelings for a while. I decided to see what happened if I felt rather deflated and sad for a while (some call it Feeling the Feels). What I discovered was interesting. It took a lot less energy to feel sad for a while and process my disappointment than it would have taken trying to shoehorn my mood into something more positive (I have spent a significant amount of time following that strategy – yes, overthinking!). By the time I went to bed, I had made peace both with the situation and my feelings about it. It felt authentic. This morning, I found the gratitude I sought without trying and also the resulting calm state of mind which makes a smooth journey through the day much easier.
If you recognise something here, if it rings a bell about your own personal experience and if it feels right, then get in touch and we can discuss how I can work with you!
Contact me on jackie@jackiekingturner.co.uk or 07785 992928. I look forward to hearing from you!
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