Most of us can endure hard things as long as we know when it ends. We break when we can’t see the shore, so to speak. Telling yourself, or worse yet, a loved one to “calm down” without knowing the skills necessary to do so, is not helpful and oftentimes harmful.
Try this instead.
When overwhelmed and in the fog, tell yourself something like this – Get another breath. This is exactly what I told myself on the morning of March 21, 2021. I was having a heart attack at the time and did not know it. All I knew was my body was cold from the inside out. Chest was tight. Each breath was getting more difficult. Told Grappy I was getting off the bike. Kept telling myself “get another breath” for the next hour or so as Grappy and Brother Mick drove me to St. Ann’s hospital and as the doc’s kept giving me morphine and looking scared shitless. CORE work had been done years prior. Did not fear death. Was ready to go but didn’t want to leave.
So, I kept it simple, not easy. Single tracked the mind in ambiguity. Narrowed the focus. Thought of nothing but breath. And so I kept getting ’em. Freaking out would have killed me. Giving up? Dead. I knew ACTion was the only way through. Just didnt know for how long. So, friend, when you find yourself overwhelmed, keep it stupid simple. SFT (STOP fucking thinking). ACT into whatever is in front of you. Focus forward. Does no good to think about how or why. Does no good to think about how long or how unlucky. Narrow the focus when in these kind of moments. Breathe.
Today, prepare yourself to ACT in ambiguity. Adversity is coming. When you least expect it. Preload your response. The crucible does not crush, it reveals. Preparation. Preparation. Preparation. Thank you, JimmyTHEgant.
I’m currently rereading Do Hard Things, by Steve Magness. Heart catherization on Thursday. Heart trouble? Something else? Don’t know, at least not yet. Doc Steve is going in to see if my heart needs more help. Likely nothing. May be something. The waiting around has been hard. I’ve been reminding myself of who I am and whose I am. Been slowing the mind. Focused on getting another breath. You see, friend, I too need reminders. Damn.
Live hard. Love ❤️ harder…
BUILT TO LEAD 