Letting Go of Control
Seeking Validation
Letting go of control in the moment can be hard especially for things which are beyond our control. Sitting with the discomfort through journaling or talking to a friend helps us know we are not alone in the pain and the discomfort in the moment. Feeling validated either through self or through others for the discomfort. This helps us acknowledge that the discomfort is valid and real. How it manifests and what that control let go looks like is something we can define for ourselves.
Distress Tolerance
Engaging in activities that help us center ourselves in the moment with the current reality without the expected outcome happening. This can be disappointing and still something necessary to do. Things like crochet or listening to birds chirping or just observing the thoughts as leaves on a stream or passing clouds in the sky. This helps bring mindfulness to our current experience and discomfort. Nature walks or walks within open spaces helps run the thought through a motion. That is necessary in the moment to move through the discomfort. Painting or any creative activity helps in the moment to ground ourselves in that activity to fully allow permission to process that discomfort. This is called redirection through distraction. We attempt to tolerate the distress through such mindful activities that take our mind off these things that cause discomfort.
Problem Solving
Once we move through the discomfort in the moment, we then look at what can be done instead now that the expected outcome did not happen. By making a different plan and adapting to change. We allow ourselves permission to stay flexible and experience the flow of nature. There is room for change now. This creates the hope in the moment that is so needed. This in turn creates the peace from the pause to shift accordingly. Here’s to welcoming change …:)