Just Keep Swimming

This has been a hard week for me, and the only way to write this today is to share the cycles I swirl through and hope that someone out here will benefit from thinking about their own with compassion or humor. 

In short, the privilege to poop at home is about to cost a large portion of my savings, and might require me to get a loan. (Please send good vibes that the latter is not required).  

With all that is happening in the world, I can roll with the presumption that you are also mucking through the mire of poo management in your own ways.
 
The only way out is through. So let’s collectively consider our own natural cycles around stress response and offer ourselves compassion and forgiveness in our current state of being.

My Cycle: 

When I first get stressful news, I initially get fired up to manage it . . . Fix it NOW! 

Often my attack on the problem is so fast that I fumble and make hectic mistakes. 

Then I panic about the foibles and question my competence.

Even if I don’t mess things up, the weight of the current situation or a new stressor might bring me freak out into anger or flustered self-judgement or anxiety or self-pity for the struggle I am in… sometimes all at the same time. Who says you can’t multitask?!

Your Turn: Reflect back on the last time you reacted badly to stressful news. What is your own pattern?

My Solutions:

At times I can catch myself in the moment as I recognize that haste is the issue and I try to slow myself with breathing techniques and words of affirmation that there will be a way to resolve things down the line. 

Luckily my brain can take over here as it starts to trim away at the stories causing these sufferings, and I chip chip chip at the swirl of overwhelm. 

Neuroscientists say that emotions typically only last about 90 seconds, but the story will reset that timer. Pausing the story that causes the loop that keeps the emotion active is very helpful. 

This recent Hidden Brain Podcast offers an interesting view into the way stories form our perspective on the world. The follow up on a future episode is also interesting. 

There’s a balance for me between needing to let myself feel angry or sad for myself, and remembering what is good in my life. A gratitude practice of saying out loud what is going well in life can reset my nervous system.

If it works, I can think clearly enough to move forward toward a next step. I might call a friend for solace or guidance.

Your Turn: What choices help you navigate back to your center? 

Helpful things friends said to me this week:

“I am proud of you for letting yourself have your moment with being frustrated. You’ve got to feel that stuff! And I see you moving more towards acceptance and positivity, which is awesome.”

“Remember that all the issues you are facing around this have solutions. Yes, they will cost money and time and effort, but there are answers ahead.”

“That sucks and I am so sorry you have to go through this. I am here for you to vent to if you need.”

What are some helpful things you have heard that felt supportive in the way that you appreciate most?

For compassion around your own messy cycles, sign up for a personal tarot reading with me. 

Get better at calming your nervous system in an intuition coaching session. 

A tarot reading lesson can help you learn to problem solve in hard times from a unique perspective.

Commiserate with a friend in a Tarot Together session. This can be online if your friend is from afar.

Feeling like a party might brighten the spirits of your community this winter? Bring magic to your event when you hire a tarot or palm reader from Portlandia Fortune Tellers. 

Notice your cycles so you can love yourself through them. 

Just Keep Swimming,

Jenna Lynne Roberts

Present Path Tarot

Portlandia Fortune Tellers