Tag: mental health

Take a Moment by Kitty Bucholtz

On Sunday, my first Encouraging Words episode in ages will air on my show, Write Now Workshop Podcast! Here is the text…

I was trying to think of something encouraging to say, which took a few minutes because it’s been a long difficult period of life for me.

Then I remembered something I’ve been trying to do lately – honestly, whenever I remember it, which tends to be a little on again, off again. It is to take a long breath, try to slow down my thoughts, and think of one good thing. During my many bad days in the last few years, I suffered a lot from anxiety and thinking up all the terrible things that were going to happen next because of this and that. I guess doctors call this catastrophizing – I wasn’t sure I could pronounce that.

Sometimes John or a friend would have to help me because I couldn’t think of a single good thing. On good days, like today, it’s much easier. But earlier today I had to lie down and set my phone alarm for 30 minutes because I couldn’t get my brain to stop spinning. Nothing bad, but I had so many thoughts I couldn’t stick with just one. Closing my eyes and breathing more evenly, I was able to slow my brain down enough to look at one thought at a time.

When I take a moment like this – and it’s usually more like 1 minute or less not 10 or 30 – I can get my thoughts to focus on the next most important item, not just choosing the next to do item that comes to mind.

I can think of something good when it seems like only bad things are happening. I can remember something I’m grateful for to keep my mood up. Or – just before I recorded this – I looked out my office window and noticed it’s bright and sunny and blue skies! Any minute now, we’ll be into 6 or 7 months of none of the above here in Sweden, just cloudy, dark and rainy. So I stopped what I was doing and took a 10-minute walk around the block. It actually turned into nearly 20 minutes because I was determined to walk in the sun, so I had to walk to another street that didn’t have tall buildings blocking out the afternoon sun.

Whether you’re having a good day or a bad day, a happy moment or a tired moment, take a short break once or twice a day to stop and think about what’s good. I’m happy because I just created two podcast episodes today! I’m grateful for a sunny day! I need to stop and acknowledge myself for how hard I’m working to learn Swedish. And I really need to choose to be grateful for the writing work I have gotten done rather than be frustrated with what I haven’t accomplished.

I hope this encourages you today. And I hope you remember to do this more often in the future. I’m going to try to remember to do it more too. It’s worth it.

I hope you have a great day, and happy writing!!