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Chewing Bite-Size Pieces
Many Times Our Automatic Reaction when faced with an uncomfortable or confusing situation is to thrash around trying to change it immediately. We attempt to change it immediately. We attempt to swallow the whole predicament at once and spit it out, solved. Very rarely does this approach ease our pain or alter the situation. In fact thoughtless, quick action is often more frustrating than productive.
When baffled or upset, we need to PAUSE, take a deep breath, and have the courage to recognize that we are intelligent and resourceful enough to solve the problem. We can either figure ot a solution ourselves or find the people to help us. Slowly and thoughfully we can begin to explore the problem and its possible soulutions in bite size pieces. Usually, as each small piece is solved, anxiety subsides and the entire puzzle fits together more easily than we might have feared.
Who, for instance, hasn't experienced qualms of inadequacy and frustration when faced with a convoluted income tax form or an incomprehensible insurance form?
Without a small-step approach to such chores we can feel discouraged before we even start. But if we pause, take a deep breath and affirm our ability to solve our problem, then divide our task into small pieces, we can almost always conquer whatever is in front of us.
We can find what we need to solve our problems if we don't allow ourselves to become overwhelmed. Three little slogans we an use to remind ourselves of this are: Pause, don't panic/ this isn't an emergency; I rarely choke on bite-size pieces.
I am resourceful.
I take one thing at a time in bite-sized pieces.
I solve problems with ease and intelligence
Thanks, Sue Patton Thoele
TOWANDA!!
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