<![CDATA[Just Erase It, a spiritual approach to managing anxiety - Managing Anxiety Day by Day]]>Sat, 07 May 2011 23:35:07 -0800Weebly<![CDATA[Day by Day . . . Managing Anxiety]]>Thu, 15 Jul 2010 01:38:46 -0800http://www.justeraseit.com/1/post/2010/07/day-by-day-managing-anxiety.htmlThis blog started out very simply.  I had taken a few of my grandchildren to a McDonald's and I began chatting with two other moms.  I began telling them about my book Just Erase It.  The younger mom said, "How do I find your blog?"  Hmmm.  I said, "I don't have one."  She replied, "Why not?  You should."

I left the fast food joint thinking, "Why don't I have one?"  Not enough time?  No, that wasn't it.  I couldn't give myself a good answer.  This is my first blog entry.  My goal will be to post an entry everyday.  I will give an example of how I could use my Just Erase It approach to living . . . day by day.

I began feeling stressed today.  I guess the word would be "anxious."  I was planning a trip to visit my brother and daughter who were residing in New Jersey.  I was scheduled to work the night shift on a Wednesday night and my plan was to depart after I slept a few hours on Thursday.  New Jersey is a mere 16 hours away.  I was driving by myself.   Then I was really  "driving" myself crazy just thinking about leaving after a few hours of sleep!  But, I wanted to get there!  I wanted to see my family!

I said the Serenity Prayer over and over and then I came up with a way to look at the situation with a different set of eyes.  Although I had told myself that I would be leaving the next day, there was nothing carved in stone.  God Grant Me The Serenity to Accept the Things I CANNOT CHANGE, CHANGE THE THINGS I CAN, and THE WISDOM TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE.  This is the prayer that guides Just Erase It. 

It was within my power to change the day I would be leaving.   Afterall, I was the driver!  There was no one else to check with.  I just had to check with one person . . . me!  I gave myself permission to catch up on my sleep that I missed while working.  I allowed myself to leisurely pack my clothes so I wouldn't forget anything.  I already had a sense of peace.   This whole thing was just about ME changing MY mind.  Once I did that, everything started falling into place and my anxiety level went from an 8 to about a 1. 
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