If you are feeling like it is impossible to manage your anxiety and depression symptoms, you may need to shift your focus to what you can do in the present moment.
Photo by Lina Trochez on Unsplash
By Carol Rickard
This past weekend I was reminded of a very important LifeTOOL which can help bring HOPE back in to our lives.
For 2 years, I’ve done a 26-mile bike ride to raise money for the Sourland Conservancy, a nonprofit working to protect the Sourland Mountains in NJ.
They call the ride the Sourland Spectacular!
And the scenery truly is spectacular! It takes you through the curves and hills of the Sourland Mountains.
Each year, this one very steep hill at the end of the route has not only brought me to a stop—I’ve had to walk up the last part of it!
So, this year’s goal was to make it up the hill WITHOUT walking. If I had to stop, I could, but then I’d get back on my bike.
As we got to the hill and I started up it, I began to feel it was HOPELESS…
It was so steep, so long, and just seemed impossible.
I began to believe it could not be done.
Then, as I switched my focus away from looking at the end goal, the top of the hill, an amazing thing happened:
The feeling of HOPELESSNESS drifted away and was replaced by
I started to have hope again I would be able to make it!
And I did, using this amazing LifeTOOL.
This LifeTOOL, when applied to LIFE is even more powerful!
So, what is this LifeTOOL that has the power of putting some HOPE back in to our life?
It is simply this:
Step 1: Set a goal that is humanly possible.
It doesn’t matter how big or far away the goal is, however, it must be something possible to achieve. (I can lose weight–I CANNOT grow taller!)
Step 2: Shift your focus away from the goal to where you are RIGHT NOW!
Instead of looking where you want to be, stay focused on “where you are.” (In my case, instead of me looking at the “top of the hill”—I focused on the road right in front of me.)
Step 3: KEEP going and DON’T stop!
It’s not about HOW you go, it’s that you keep going! Even if you feel you are going 2 steps forward and one step back, you’re still moving forward! (I had to stop & rest on the hill—then I got moving again!)
Applied to depression and anxiety:
Don’t keep focusing on the depression or anxiety going away.
Instead, focus on TODAY and what step you need to take TODAY that moves you in the direction of wellness.
~ To Living Well TODAY! ~
via Esperanza – Hope To Cope
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