When I am struggling with anxiety, this Bible verse has come to mind many times in my life and reminded me to be still…
Psalm 46:10
Be still and know that I am God…
When I am reminded to be still, I also can calm myself by “knowing” or reminding myself that:
- God loves me.
- I am child of God.
- I have a loving family.
- My dog is a wonderful companion.
- I am alive and well.
- No weapon formed against me shall prosper. (Isaiah 54:17)
- I have a safe home.
- I have a dependable vehicle.
- I am mobile and independent.
- I have many gifts and talents.
- I have friends who love me.
- I have a heart for helping others.
Wow! After writing those few positive things down to affirm that life isn’t spinning around me in chaos after all or that I’m not failing at everything (the opposite of what my anxious mind tells me) I start to feel lighter and more hopeful…and less anxious.
Writing lists of gratitude or keeping a gratitude journal has been a trend for many years now. Oprah is a believer in this practice and usually by the time it catches on in self-help/pop psychology it becomes eye-roll worthy when suggested as a method of self-care. Many nod their heads and say “oh yes, I’ll do that one day”…but then life gets busy and one gets caught up in their anxieties all over again and forget to “be still and know.”
If you are struggling with anxiety, stress, busyness, etc. try this exercise below if a list or a daily practice of gratitude journaling is too much:
- Write down and/or visualize just one positive thing in your life.
- Clear out all the other negative thoughts and focus on this one shiny thing.
- Feel all the positive feelings that emanante from this positive object, memory, person, or experience.
- As other thoughts trickle into your mind, let them pass, wave to them if you need to, but focus on your positive thought.
- Meditate on this thought for at least 1 minute, but stay focused on it for as long as you like.
How did this exercise make you feel? Please share in the comments if it helped you in any way. Do you keep any type of journal? Do you have a habit of expressing gratitude or try to cultivate a thankful heart in other ways?
💜👩🏻🌾
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