I am frozen. Can I just hide under the covers and not face my life right now? Almost every woman has felt this way at one time or another… especially during highly stressful periods like facing divorce. I remember my sister trying to get me to commit to a family event months away. I did not even believe I could see more than one day ahead. I wanted to act like an ostrich, stick my head in the sand, and not have to deal with life. This avoidance and hiding was initially my coping mechanism; yet I learned it would not get me anywhere.
I recently saw a inspirational sign that that reminded me of how I got myself moving again:
Three Simple Rules of Life
1. If you do not GO after what you want, you will never have it.
2. If you do not ASK, the answer will always be NO.
3. If you do not step FORWARD, you will always be in the same place.
There it is. The movement. Getting out from under the covers to face whatever perceived boogieman is under your bed. Personally, I wanted my sister, my attorneys, friends, or anyone else to fight my fights and leave me alone safe in my bed. Does this sound familiar? I know I am not alone in that desire to stay where it feels safe. Yet… As the inspirational sign so wisely said, I found myself in the same place—momentarily safe, but not solving any problems nor living any kind of life.
You may ask: How did you get out of bed and get on with life? I had to make the decision to go, to get out of bed and back into the world. Secondly, I ASKED for help. I relied on the strength of my team—family, friends, and professionals. They held my hand and I used their strength. It helps to know that you are not alone. Finally, I stepped FORWARD… one small step at a time. I found that taking it on one piece at a time instead of dealing with the entire picture was more manageable for me. I love this quote about facing large problems:
“The man who moves a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.”
-Confucius
Once you realize you can handle moving the small stones one at a time, the mountain no longer seems insurmountable.
Call us if you are in this place: frozen, scared, tired, depressed, overwhelmed. It will be your best step FORWARD. We will help you figure out what the next steps can be.