Making A Plan

So where I live, the weather is beginning to get cooler. With cooler weather, many of us will probably find it a little more difficult to exercise and practice facing our fears outdoors. However, it is still important to get outside and practice, especially if our anxiety gets worse when we go outside.

So, what do we need to do? My therapist asked me this and honestly, I wasn’t sure. To say that I now know how I will handle this would be a lie. I admit, that as difficult as it is to sometimes get myself motivated enough to go outside and practice when it’s warmer out, it’s even harder to do when it isn’t as warm. The thing is though, that none of us can really afford to slack off and allow our anxiety to take over.

We need to make a plan. My plans so far involve practicing and exercising more inside than I usually do, trying to walk at least a little outside, and trying to go to more places like restaurants, etc.

Doing things in the fall and winter to work on getting through our anxiety may seem a bit more challenging, but it’s still something we need to work on. I wish you all the best and if anyone has any advice on how to practice and exercise outside during the cooler months, please let me know. Thanks!

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Satisfaction

There is nothing wrong with needing help sometimes to get through our struggles and asking those we trust for assistance and support. However, when we do something on our own, even if it’s difficult, we feel a level of accomplishment that usually falls nothing short of amazing.

Take this morning, for example. I did something that I usually struggle with all on my own without any help. While there were points where I got anxious, I asked God to help me get through what I was going through and I believed in myself. Eventually, I got what I needed to get done, done.

What did this help show me? This helped show me that even through experiencing anxiety, I do have the strength and ability to get through these stressful times. Now, am I saying this means that I’ll never ask for help from others again? No.

Don’t get me wrong, I would love to never need assistance again when it comes to dealing with my anxiety. To be honest, I wish I didn’t struggle with irrational anxiety and fears ever again. However, I know that getting through anxiety is a process and often one that’s longer than one wishes. My point is though that we do have the strength to get through this and eventually, if we keep trying our hardest, we will!

We need to show ourselves that we can get through our times of stress. If we need to ask help of those we trust, that’s fine, as long as we remember that our ultimate goal is to become more independent and count on ourselves to get through our fears.

*I ask that everyone please remember to thank those in your lives who are supportive and help you in your journey to be free from whatever negativity holds you back. There are so many individuals out there who struggle to find people who are supportive and we should be grateful for all those in our lives who are. I want to thank my family and friends who support me, including all of you here who read my blog! Please feel free to read the poem Kim and I wrote about invisible friends (friends that we never meet, but still mean the world to us!).

 

 

 

Invisible Friends: A Poem

Image can be found here

I first “met” Kim through her blog, The Lavender Letters. Ever since Kim first commented on my blog, she’s been nothing but kind. We soon began communicating through email and I realized just how much we have in common. She is one of the most positive people I have ever encountered through blogging and she is extremely talented. Both Kim and I write poetry and I thought it would be wonderful if we were to work together to create a poem about friendship.

Having a meaningful friendship online isn’t always easy. Because no one can ever really know someone without meeting them and slowly learning if they can trust them, one has to be safe and yet willing to share kindness. There needs to be a balance; we need to share our experiences, while still being cautious. While we may not always be able to meet someone in person due to safety reasons, we can still make connections and that is what the poem Kim and I wrote together is all about.

A friend is someone who you feel you can count on and who offers understanding and kindness. I consider Kim a good friend, as well as a lot of other bloggers I speak to. I hope you all enjoy reading this collaborative poem by Kim and I. Thank you!

Invisible Friends

By: B.G. and Kim

Part of me regrets
That we’ve never met
And that we’ve only talked
Through words on an electronic page

We speak through wires and keys
Thoughts flowing with ease
Yet we are like birds
Locked within this cage

Yet here you are before me
Words written to share glimpses
Of your soul that speaks,
Getting to know you.

To find a friend not met
To share a virtual talk across worlds
Our paths may never cross perhaps
Except through a sentence or two.

For as much as we may want to meet face to face
We need to remember the importance of being safe
For in this world there are those less than kind
Those who do not know the true value of a friend

But you have managed to constantly brighten my day
With the constant words of kindness that you say
You’re always there offering a helping hand
Full of advice you find in your heart to lend

But in the quiet space when I feel lost
I know your invisible thoughts come to reach me
To give me the gift of support,
To tell me I’m not so alone.

And in a world of pain
Where we need kindness to stay sane
I look to you for comfort
From the coldness I sometimes feel

And in every word you type
You make it all alright
For having someone understand
Can have the amazing power to heal

*B.G. is the author of Getting Through Anxiety. Thanks for reading my blog!

**Kim is the author of The Lavender Letters, Peace, Love and Patchouli, and thereinventionintention. Please check out these great blogs!

Words that keep me motivated to workout

Amrita Kinne from amritadidthis wrote this wonderful post filled with motivational quotes to exercise! I recommend checking out her blog! Thanks.

Lesson Learned: Celebrate YOU

Here’s some great advice I found on The Curious Gemini. Thanks Lapaka!

Take some time out today to pat yourself on your back and celebrate your small victories. Don’t wait for anyone to tell you that you are great or for them to praise you for a job well done.

Happy Weekend

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How I’m Learning to Stop Overthinking, and Start Living

Once again Jt has written an amazing post! I think a lot of us who struggle with anxiety tend to over think and Jt has some great advice for getting through this! Please check out her amazing blog!

Labyrinth Spill and Getting Through Anxiety: A Comparison

Okay, so I just accomplished something I’m quite proud of and all while concentrating on the game of Labyrinth Spill. Now for those of you who aren’t familiar with the game, let me try to explain. The goal of Labyrinth Spill is to navigate a marble by using knobs to tilt a board that is filled with holes. The goal is to make it to number 60 on the board and if you’re really good at the game, get the marble back to number one.

First of all, the game proved to be a great distraction. To be really good at the game you have to have good hand-eye coordination and concentration. Being focused on something like a game of Labyrinth Spill instead of your anxiety is a great way to get through your anxiety all while doing something challenging and fun!

I also realized while playing Labyrinth Spill that the game itself is much like getting through anxiety. Getting through anxiety takes small, but consistent steps in order to get to your ultimate goal and so does Labyrinth Spill. Also, because of all the holes in the game, chances are that the marble is going to fall through the holes quite a bit before you make to 60 and then hopefully back from there. Getting through anxiety is similar because often times we have to deal with obstacles. However, when the marble falls through the holes in Labyrinth Spill or when we struggle with anxiety, we don’t give up, we pick the marble or ourselves up and we start over again! With consistent practice, we can succeed at Labyrinth Spill and we can get through our anxiety!

Good Days!

Today I’ve been having a good day. Earlier I went to lunch with my dad, brother, and grandma. I ate delicious pancakes and for the most part, felt relaxed. In fact, my grandma even told my dad afterwards that today’s the best she’s seen me in a while! I loved to hear that she said that because although we can’t always count on others to boost our confidence, it definitely made me feel good that someone acknowledged just how much I tried and just how well I did.

When I got home I was still feeling pretty relaxed and did some stretches and exercises. Then I took a nap and just a little while ago, found out that I was nominated once again for the Liebster Award by Rachel from Sunny and Stormy Days!

It’s really important that we acknowledge our good days. Even if the day didn’t go perfectly, that doesn’t mean that we should ignore the amazing things that did happen. I hope that you’ve all had a great day and remember that even if you struggled, you can still get through your anxiety with hard work!

I Just Got Nominated Again!

I have just been nominated again for the Liebster Award, this time thanks to Rachel at Sunny and Stormy Days! I learned of her blog through Tales in Anxiety. Thank you so much for nominating me and for writing your wonderful blog!

Instead of repeating the rules of the award, I ask that you please read them here.

Here are the bloggers and blogs that I would like to nominate!

1.) PHDinMeBlog

2.) Today I Choose Peace

3.) Wanderluster

4.) Fightingthestigma

5.) Tori’s Stories

6.) Motivation for Today’s REALITY

7.) Sunny and Stormy Days

Now for the really fun part, the questions!

1. How did you first get into blogging? 
   • If first got into blogging after my therapist recommended I blog about my anxiety. My dad had also told me in the past to write about my anxiety.
2. What would you say to someone who is planning on starting their own blog? 
   • I would say that it’s a great idea and that you should make sure that you not only write about something that will help others, but that you write something that you enjoy or that helps you. Also, be careful! I’m a strong believer in being honest on a blog and sharing, but don’t share information that is too personal!
3. How would you describe your blog to an new reader? 
   • A blog where you can learn about my experiences with anxiety and where you can see that you’re not alone in your struggles.
4. Describe yourself in three words, please?
   • Kind, hard-working, passionate
5. What would be the worst question I could ask you? 
   • Where I live since I’m very private about that or why I’m always so anxious and worry so much.
6. Who is the biggest inspiration in your life?
   • Living-my dad because he’s so supportive and kind. Who passed away-my grandma because she was so kind, caring, and never gave up
7. If you won the lottery how would you first spend your money?
   • Ha, I’d buy a suede jacket or leather blazer. Perhaps both?
8. What is your earliest memory?
   • Being in preschool I think.
9. What was the last photo you took with your phone?
   • Good question! Of my dad making a funny face, before that a car I’m in love with!
10. What is the best compliment you’ve ever received?
    • That I’m really nice or whenever someone says I did well with my anxiety. Also my theology teacher once said something along the lines of me being a wonderful person.
11. What was the first thing you thought when you woke up this morning?
    • I believe it had to do with exercising.

For the record, these were great questions. Here are mine:

1.) Do you plan on blogging for a long time?

2.) If you aren’t married yet, what season would you like to get married in?

3.) If you haven’t had kids yet, what are some names you’d like to name your kids if you ever had any?

4.) What’s your favorite restaurant?

5.) Apple pie or Pumpkin?

6.) Think of your favorite TV show or movie. Who would you date in that TV show and or movie and why?

7.) Are you more of a movie person or TV show person?

8.) What’s your favorite TV show of all time?

9.) What grade were you in/age were you when you got your first cell phone?

10.) Is blogging all that you thought it would be? More?

11.) Would you rather travel around the world or live where you do now forever?

PHDinMeBlog-Money Monday/People and Your Mind

Shona from PHDinMeBlog wrote this great post! Please feel free to check it out!

PHDinMeBlog

Scholars,

In the 8/31 Money Monday post I talked about how our thinking affects our finances.  I’m now convinced that it does and not just about how or what we think about money but how we think in general.  Often times, our thinking is generated by the information we take in, which by and large comes from other people.  Therefore, I have discovered that it is imperative that we are intentional about being very selective regarding the people and the ideas that we allow into our minds in general of course but yes even when it comes to making money!

So who are these wrong people? I will share with you my Top Ten (10) list:

1. People who do not have anything positive to say regarding your ideas, dreams, ambitions or goals
2. People who seem to have all the time in the world to talk to you but no time to listen…

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