Ever have one of those days that wasn’t any one big event that caused your emotional meltdown, but instead several little things? It feels like your little sibling poking you for hours on end. Not something that can be solely defined, but just everything. I had that episode last night. And all I could do is use up the energy and ride it out. Just to hope I make it out to the other side.
Cause
It started at work yesterday. I am very grateful that I found this job and love everything I do for them. But I felt some disappointment yesterday and I was unsuccessful in hiding it even from myself. Then stress around the home added in. Until finally I had emotions flare up with some friends. And that was all it took. The spiral took hold, and the rest of the night wasted away in the tissue box.
It doesn’t matter if you experience a major event or a lot of little ones. The effect is the same. The impact on your mental health hits every time. And it lasts just as long. So never think that your life is any less important than anyone else’s.
Affect
I remember a video of a professor that had a glass jar. At first it is empty. Then he added large round rocks. And each time he asked if the jar was full before he added something more that was smaller than the first. Before you know it, he added 5 different items into the one jar before adding water.
The purpose of the experiment was to show that the jar is you. How much of the big things like the stuff you hold the most value for, are able to be a focus in your life? Example, the large stones could be your family, friends, spouse, your home. If they are first in your jar, they have your main focus. Smaller stones can be your job, or your hobbies. They can make up some of the room left over. The sand are things like social media, getting noticed. Let that take up fewer areas. And then the water is everything else.
Control
Much of mental health is controllable by working on how we accept situations. I knew I needed to get the energy out of my system last night, so I allowed it. But today when I woke up, I had to make a choice on how I was going to feel for today. Was I going to allow the events of the night before to control how I was going to feel and act today? The answer…kind of. I struggled for a little bit today to keep my emotions controlled. So whether you are faced with a pile of pebbles or a single boulder, you have control on how much energy you give it. And try not to feel that your pile of small stones is not as important as the large boulder. Because it affects you…then it is important.
Enjoy this video.
With great warmth,
