The Insanity Solo Cycle
/In a scripture study this week at church the conversation of how to deal with negative emotions came up.
The answers:
Read scriptures. Say prayers. Journal. Sing a song didn’t come up but has in previous discussions.
These are all really good things. But why do we often go to solving problems on our own?
Trying to go it alone is the largest stumbling block ah-ha I’ve had as I’ve worked on my own recovery and with others on their path.
What if a trauma wound is with religion and God? The answers above may be more rage inducing than comforting.
It is like a truck with bald tires stuck in the snow. More effort just digs the tires deeper until the bottom of the truck is resting on the snow and the tires just spin and spin until the engine overheats or runs out of gas.
Forward movement is only possible when the snow and ice thaw and the mud dries up - assuming your truck is now not stuck in the hardened mud!
The greatest tool our enemy has is to keep us trying to “git-‘r-done” on our own. I live and die emotionally, mentally, and spiritually based on how much I’m reaching out to others. It sounds overly simplistic. It also seems complicated.
“What if others judge me?”
“I’ve tried it before, but it doesn't work.”
This is what Steven chased after me about in the bonus content of my UU podcast episode for our Outsiders.
For me I just kept on doing it. Over and over again. Look, addiction taught me how to be repetitive really well. I might as well use that repetition for good, right?
It was painful in the beginning. It was almost all one-sided for a while. I found out I reached out to the wrong people at first- others stuck too but who enjoyed hearing their engine rev as their truck sunk deeper still.
But over time I’ve gotten my crew together. Over time others reach out to me first.
And my life is soooo much better.
Life is a beautiful thing with heart aches and hard lessons, but I know God loves me and I know the names of many who love me. And when I’m feeling down and out, y’all lift me up.
What next
What are you willing to do differently?
Spend time each morning connecting to God with two questions: “how do You see me?” and “who can I reach out to?
Look for people whose truck isn’t stuck in the mud. There are many who have overcome adversity in life, seek them.
By Pete, Writing Team