What we say, what we do, what we read, who we surround ourselves with, all contribute to how we feel. It begins with our thoughts. This has long been a struggle for me. First, I am my own worst critic and can worry myself into being frozen into inaction. Until I can push past the echoing in my mind, I feel mired in quicksand with no hope of freedom.
The most powerful quicksand escape route seems to be thankfulness - out loud and in purposeful thought. If I can start with a pattern of waking up and going to sleep recounting everything and anything to be thankful about, it seems to open my mind to possibilities and action plans for the things that challenge me.
Reading things that inspire me or humor me or recalling someone I witnessed overcoming a challenge also helps. For me, it's work to redirect that internal looping sense of gloom and doom. Being surrounded by very positive and motivated people is important. Recounting in my mind, and out loud to them, how thankful I am to have them in my life provides the right momentum to get myself back on positive ground.
In my younger days, I thought I was uniquely troubled with challenges and set backs. It seemed others had it easier or better somehow. That thinking, in itself, was a debilitating loop. It caused me to focus on external factors instead of taking charge of my own action or inaction that could improve my lot.
One day, perhaps I will learn to walk past the quicksand. At least I've learned how to get out of it a little sooner.
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