When I first started this 30 Days of Positive Affirmations, I began to write a list of the many things I dream of achieving. I shared it with John and he began to help me think of more ideas to add to the list. It’s tough coming up with that many, and I’m blessed with a very supportive and kind husband! He also deals with some depression and anxiety so he understood what I was trying to achieve and he told me that he really liked the idea. Of course he also loves me and may be biased, but I can live with that. 😉

Knowing I can rebuild myself in the face depression (affirmation #1) was the perfect place to start on this journey … and you know I’m a mom so it felt apropos to use the Master Builders of The Lego Movie as a visual. If they can build it, so can I. And so can you…

I then added triumphing over negative thoughts (#2), achieving a state of high energy (#3), and forming new positive habits (#4) to the mix, all so vital to conquering the beast. I’m already feeling more positive coming up with these, thinking them through, and writing about them. Repeating positive affirmations and sending them into the universe can really do wonderful things. And now on to #5 …

Affirmation #5

For Affirmation #5, my dear friend Denise actually inspired me with her words. I had been texting with her over the weekend because she could really relate to the first few posts I had written. It made me feel so good to know that I’m not alone in these feelings. Not that I’m happy others feel this way, but that I’m not living on some deserted island with no one around me who gets it.

We emailed about my upcoming affirmations and one that I had written connected with her: “My mind is clear.”

She said: “I find myself snowballing when something goes wrong or I have a conflict with someone. I have to actively take a deep breath – isolate what it is that I am really stressed about and keep it in perspective until I get resolution.”

I read her words and all I could do was shake my head yes. Conflicts, negative comments, mistakes … they really affect me. I instantly feel my face go hot, my blood pressure rise, and I feel an ache in the pit of my stomach. It’s about 1,000 times worse when I’m depressed.

I can be chugging along reading Facebook and decide to comment on a friend’s post. Inevitably a friend of a friend will disagree with me and reply. It’s not that I want others to think and feel exactly the way I do. Honestly, I don’t. I love seeing the varying opinions on social media as long as the discourse is courteous. I’ve certainly learned a ton over the years reading others’ opinions and experiences, but it’s that internal need for approval maybe, or a desire to avoid conflict that sends me into a state of agitation.

A few times in my blogging career I’ve written posts on larger sites that have gotten a lot of “troll” type comments. I can’t read them. I just can’t. It makes me not want to blog. I know for a fact that I would never want to be famous or even slightly well known. The anonymous internet is mean, and all of that potential negativity does not make me happy.

In situations like Denise describes above, where the conflict or mistake involves people I know, it’s even harder on my anxiety and stress level. Perhaps I make a mistake with work. I admit to it, and resolve it (typically quickly and easily), but my mind will spin and spin and spin on the situation. It’s hard for me to let those things go. So to make a long story even longer, today’s affirmation is related to visualizing a clear, strong and focused mind. A mind that is unaffected by the little things. I suppose that book “Don’t Sweat the Small Stuff” was popular for a reason.

My mind is CLEAR, STRONG and FOCUSED.

It is impenetrable.

It is rational.

It is reasonable.

It is calm.

***

Here is Denise and me at Disney World this past summer. We certainly didn’t feel depressed this day! We don’t often get to see one another, so it was a very special occasion. It’s such a blessing in my life to have friends who just get me, no matter the distance or time that separates us.