Throughout my life I have often heard the phrase, "Mind Over Matter." It was a catch all that was used in times of ill health. If someone was sick, the remedy would be to take some medicine and think positively. Having a strong mind was the key to health in my upbringing.
While I don't think that is 100% the way to go about tough situations, it has provided me with the ability to have acceptance in tough situations. I haven't really been overly open about this on here but it's been a little over a year since my father was hospitalized for a brain aneurysm. Even typing that word makes my stomach drop. It wasn't the first time I was faced with the possibility of losing a parent. Health crisis have been very prevalent in my family over the years. This one was different. This time, I finally allowed myself to feel all the difficult emotions of the situation.
In the past, I would take mind over matter to mean ONLY think about the good or possibility of a good outcome. I never let myself accept that the opposite could be the case. I never allowed myself to accept that because I was convinced I would not be able to handle it. This time, i took the phrase (mind over matter) and digested it in a much different way. I full embraced the idea that no matter the outcome (good or bad) I was going to move through it. See, that phrase didn't mean ONLY thinking positively without any negativity. It meant looking at the facts of the situation, accepting the outcome, and trusting that I will handle it the best way possible.
I am no master of total acceptance yet, but I have been giving myself more grace in accepting the things I cannot change and changing the things I can. When I get stuck in the whirlwind of "what if!?" I simply remind myself that the thoughts are okay to have, but they are not okay to allow to linger for any length of time. Two things can be true at once. I can be having a family emergency AND spend time with my friends. I can experience both pain and live my life at the same time. Happiness only feels good because we know what sadness feels like. We are allowed to feel both at the same time. That is the human experience.
Until Next Time,
Your Cycle Half Stephanie xo
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