Before I get to commenting on the posts I would just like to say its really awesome to start another project with everybody, I know in the challenge we kinda fell apart in the middle but I did really enjoy the beginning. If you go back and check out the posts you would see that in the beginning we were all fired up and excited and positive and hopeful and inspiring and if we can have that kinda spark throughout the whole program then we'll be set!
One of the things I believe that kept up that spark is that we were talking about our accomplishments, solutions, ideas, our purpose and we were sharing more exciting, funny and inspiring stories, music, videos and pictures. We were focused on where we wanted to go but I think we started to lose that at some point and were talking more about the details of what we didn't want and the problems and we focused on the pain and where we didn't want to be instead of our goals and the happy stuff. So one of the things that is important is that we make this as light as we can!
In order to make this light I suggest not to look at the program as work or that you have to do anything or in a very serious way. Be silly! If you don't want to do all the action assignments then just pick a couple and focus on where you want to go.
Our goal is NOT to overcome the anxiety! Our goal is to just have fun and enjoy ourselves! The reason I say this is because if you keep focusing on the anxiety then that will be the only thing you really see and after a short while you may become discouraged and think, "its not gone yet" or "it's still here" or something along those lines. Also based on the program Lucinda mentions about allowing yourself to float with the symptoms and just let them be and eventually the fear goes away and so does the symptoms. So the less you focus on them, the less time they stick around and the best way to do that is to focus on the good stuff! Let me ask you a question. What is easier to do, overcome the anxiety and depression or to make yourself feel a little bit better? If you can make yourself feel a bit better one day and a bit better the next day and the next day and the next day, where do you think you'll be after a month? or 2 months? or 4 months?
That being said it is still important that we put effort into the action assignments, workbook, lesson cds and practice opportunities because those things will help us to get to where we want to get and to experience those positive feelings like love, compassion, joy, excitement, confidence on a very deep level.
So you are in control of what you choose to do and how you choose to participate. You can post about your experiences with action assignments, or questions about something, your experiences with limitations, thought replacements, suggestions to others and you could also post positive stories, pictures, videos, music and ideas!
Also I do understand that at times we need to vent and let things go so I have created a thread for people to go and do that so they don't feel like they aren't allowed to feel negative and think negative and to keep the Building a better life series a more positive place. So if you are feeling really negative and you need to get it out then go there and do it. I will also be posting some videos there that are more negative in an attempt to let people who are suffering to know that they are not alone in their suffering. Here is the link
http://forum.stresscenter.com/viewtopic ... 21#p710921-Letting Go
So lets build that better life and lets do it in the most exciting and fun way we can. Its time to lose that serious face and replace it with a silly one!
Mike
