Embracing Mindful Resilience: Navigating Fear and Cultivating Gratitude

I had nervous breakdown this past week and it helped me get out of a funk.

I have a tendecies to overachieve. To use every second of a day ‘wisely’. To find space and fill it.

But on Thursday, feeling extremely stressed, anxious and an overall sense of dread…I sat listlessly on the edge of my bed, in front of my mirror and had a chat with my self. (Call me crazy if you will, in that moment I would have too, but sometimes you’ve gotta talk it out)

I started this one sided conversation with a look at the facts of the present moment. I was safe in my beautiful home. My family was (and still is) all alive, well and thriving. There was no impending doom in sight. I have food in my fridge. I live in a safe neighborhood. I am privileged. I was going to be ok. Everything was ok.

Speaking these very real truths out loud brought me back to reality. Before ‘our’ come to Jesus my mind was a vortex of what if’s, hypothetical conversations and stories of the worst case scenarios…none of which even held an ounce of truth. Yet my body was reacting as if they was my current reality.

Our minds are wildly powerful. Just one thought, true or not, can cause a reaction within our bodies that our nervous system reacts to. (Ex: Monster in the closet = FEAR. The feeling is real, the monster is not) THIS is why our mindsets are so important.

The inner dialog is the director of our reality. Being aware of the script, taking back the control when its gotten away from us is the most powerful expression of awareness we can hone and one that I rely on heavily to bring me back down to earth when I’ve obliviously gone to outer space.

Fundamentally, you are separating the facts from the feelings of the story you are telling yourself.

When this concept was first introduced to me I had to physically write it down. I’d write out the story I was telling my self, then write down how that story made me feel, then dissected the FACTS without the feelings and then was challenged to rewrite the story to give me the outcome I truly wanted.

This system of rewriting our stories was the most powerful tool in my belt to help me through my once debilitating anxiety.

After I talked my self off the proverbial ledge, I had the realization that I was so lost in my mind and my stories that I was missing out on reality. I wasn’t fully present for my family. I wasn’t happy or enjoying any moment of life lately. And by doing so I was missing out on the beauty and abundance in my life.

So I decided to take a step back. To be consciously present. To disconnect from social media for a few days. To allow myself the space to let my brain rest and to focus on being grateful for the gifts given to me in life.

I felt better instantly but have continued to feel lighter and more effortless in my day to day.

My intension in sharing this with you is to remind you that staying a positive state of mind, one that serves your greater good and keeps you moving in the right direction, is something we have to be aware of and have to practice consistently.

Take a moment today to reflect on your inner dialogue and the stories you tell yourself. Recognize the profound impact your thoughts can have on your well-being and practice the art of separating facts from feelings, allowing yourself to rewrite the narratives that no longer serve you.