Don't Forget to Look Up & Acknowledge!

A couple weeks ago I was feeling "meh"..sad, frustrated, blue, unmotivated...just plain "yucky".  I walked looking down, shoulders slumped, eyebrows furrowed to the local coffee shop for a change of scenery (and truth be known, probably to avoid doing something challenging that would push me outside my "comfort zone").  I had tried some of my tools like doing a gratitude list  and just "being" with the feeling but for some reason it wouldn't pass...so off I went.  With a frown on my face and negative thoughts racing through my head, I shuffled along looking down at the sidewalk.  I saw litter, cig butts, dog crap, pot holes, and sewer covers.  I passed a few people as I cursed (to myself) their happiness and "pep in their step".  Everything and every one was bugging me.  The inner critic's (saboteur's) voice was loud in my head..."You have no reason to be sad.  What is wrong with you?  You are so lazy, procrastinating and unfocused.  You suck!"   I felt like Eeyore, Winnie the Pooh's pessimistic, gloomy, depressed friend.

I got to the shop, mumbled my order and paid...Then I dropped a $2 bill in the tip jar and happen to look up.  The barista was ecstatic..had I not looked up, I would have missed that surprise and delight.  I sat down and began to dump my frustrations, negative thoughts, "garbage" into my journal. I began to feel lighter..then I heard Bob Marley's Three Little Birds playing.."Don't worry...Every little thing is gonna be alright".  Had I not looked up, I would have missed those words of encouragement.  I wrote more. Suddenly the aroma of delicious muffins baking hit me.  Had I not looked up, I would have missed that pleasure.  I wrote more.  I noticed how comfy, cozy the couch I was sitting on felt.  Had I not looked up, I would have missed that sensation.  The more I emptied my brain onto the pages, the better I felt.  This gave me the "sense" to look up, notice and appreciate the "wonderfulness" around me.  My mind/mood was shifting.

Every day I do  "brain dump" journaling.  (I challenge, encourage, motivate my clients to do the same.  They report, as do I, huge benefits from this exercise/habit).  The dump is "clutter elimination"  so that new thoughts, ideas, creativity have space to come in and grow.  In that moment I had an AH HA!  When I look up I can notice, absorb, appreciate so much more then when I look down.  Yes...obvious but so easy to forget.  Then I challenged myself to develop a new habit.  I would continue to "brain dump" AND I would write all the "stuff" that is wonderful about me and acknowledge myself.  What had I not noticed, dismissed, ignored, not appreciated when I only look down?

Ok..I am not going to lie, I sat in that coffee shop a LONG time trying this exercise that morning.  It is hard to acknowledge yourself...but I asked myself "If I were her friend what would I say?"  (Of course I am my own friend AND that is a topic for another blog!)  I wrote and wrote and wrote.  I walked home with "pep in my step" and head held high looking up.  My mind was at ease;  the saboteur had "run for the hills" and couldn't be heard.  I heard kids playing, birds singing.  I stopped to smell the beautiful flowers.  I gave/received warm smiles/nods.  I felt the sun on my skin and the breeze in my hair.  I admired all the cool architecture.  I acknowledged all the greatness around me.  Had I not looked up I would have missed all of this!

When I got home I knocked many "gnarly" tasks off my list.  I had the courage to do some that had been "off putting" to me for a while.  I was hooked!

Since then I have been looking up literally and figuratively AND practicing my new habit of journaling...after the dump I acknowledge myself.  Certainly it is not a cure all but it is another tool to add to my belt.  I encourage CHALLENGE you to try this tool and see how it works for you!  I'd love to hear your comments.