Keep Moving Forward Challenge:
I will post an entry in the Keep Moving Forward Challenge every Thursday from now through March 2015. To join in on the journey, use the comment section to tell us about how you “kept moving forward” that week. Write about it on your own blog site (and include the link in the comments), make a video, and/or use the hashtag #KeepMovingForwardChallenge on the social media platforms (Twitter, Facebook, Instagram).
Host: http://kellydeeny.com/2015/02/05/keep-moving-forward-challenge-week-1/
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Keep Moving Forward
It’s always easier to move forward when we have something to look forward to or something or someone special waiting for us.
I am an obsessive planner. I want to know what is happening every second of everyday and if for some reason I can’t know, I become anxious. Then there are those times that you know something unpleasant is coming and thinking about it causes anxiety.
Before a recent surgery on my jaw (the 6th in a series of 8,) I was anxious because I knew the recovery would be painful and long. I also knew I would be craving my favorite foods for weeks.
I gave up worrying two years ago for New Year’s and an exercise I used to stop worrying was to close my eyes and imagine the most positive outcome for the situation that had me stuck in worry. If I was worried about my daughter arriving safely with the children, I closed my eyes and pictured them walking through the door. That positive thinking is pretty much a habit now.
Recently I started using that exercise to help me get unstuck, to give me something to look forward to when I moved forward.
Faking it till you make it is working for me.
Before that recent surgery I pictured myself on the other side of recovery enjoying a steak and a salad, smiling. It wasn’t easy but it did help.
Feeling stuck during the editing of The Stranger In MyRecliner, frustrated with waiting for the answers to research questions and dealing with seemingly endless contract issues, the anxiety tried to get the best of me. When I felt the familiar soreness creeping in on my shoulders I would get up from the computer and take a break. I would close my eyes and imagine myself at a Barnes & Noble author event or a book signing/happy hour at the most amazing place for a book signing, the library at my favorite beach.
I used to get into a lot of trouble for daydreaming when I was younger. Spending time imagining positive outcomes feels a lot like daydreaming but today I’d rather think of it as time well wasted, like a vacation for my mind that fuels my creativity and leaves me wanting to #Keep Moving Forward.
Doreen
32 thoughts on “Keep Moving Forward…”
I’m also a compulsive planner and always trying to move forward. It’s been both a curse and a blessing in my life.
Yes! Both a blessing and a curse. I am trying to at least take the compulsive out of the planning.
I love your trick of visualizing the most positive scenario. I really need to try that. I tend to imagine the worst and that is very destructive.
It does work and it is becoming almost natural for me to just immediately put the worst thoughts out of my mind and think of the best.
I’ve used visualization for a long time. It’s so powerful and while it doesn’t always work sometimes I can feel my stomach calm down and my jaw unclench. I remember a particular moment on our honeymoon when I hung onto my husband as we drifted together in the surrounding waters of LIttle Dix Bay. That is my moment…
What a great memory. Safe comes to mind. It is working more and more for me and becoming almost natural.
Sad how we break ourselves of being dreamers. I blame too many class minutes spent in the corner for staring out windows. It is good to daydream. I decided years ago that it was okay to believe in positive outcomes. Why did I ever buy into the “don’t get your hopes up” ideology? High hopes are good things!
Hopes and big dreams are so worth it!
I agree–it is so important to keep moving forward. Sometimes I feel I’m most creative during those daydreaming breaks. It’s essential to sometimes do nothing so all the spaces can come together.
Just being quiet for awhile really helps.
I like daydreaming too much as well. I love the positive visualizing you do! I think I have to try more of that. I use distraction mostly – esp when I’m anxious.
Thinking of the best outcome works so well for me. Anxiety is just awful!
If I was having jaw surgery I would definitely indulge in all the foods I wanted to eat!
I definitely do!
I always try to look at the positive side of everything, and I truly believe it will all work out. I kind of have to because I am the opposite of an obsessive planner! I do find faking it till you actually make it does work!
You seem like a very positive person to me. I am trying to stop the obsessive part of planning:)
I can’t imagine going through one jaw surgery and you have to endure 8! Kudos to you for keeping such a positive attitude when facing such pain. I, too, have found visualization of happier outcomes help me endure the hardest of times.
Sometimes it is harder than ever but positive thinking absolutely works.
I’m big on planning, too — as Carol says sometimes that’s more helpful than others. It’s been going well this year, though. I’ve been using an on-line tool called Trello that really clicks for me. It’s time for a bit of tweaking and cleaning up, though.
So…I’m moving forward this week by reading a book called Making Ideas Happen by Scott Belsky and letting it inspire my re-ordered organization.
The book sounds good! I will check out Trello.
I will have to try your visualization trick. Sometimes I don’t think I am worried and at 3AM the worry beast hits!
Those middle of the night beasts are the worst. They are slayable!
How do I find out more about moving forward? And I am amazed that you were able to quit worrying, I have been attending therapy sessions all about mind mastery and attitude. when you said you closed your eyes and saw them walking in the door….well, that is about perfect mind mastery. And so peaceful. Please tell me where I can find out more about moving forward. Great post!!
It definitely wasn’t easy to quit but it is SO worth it!
I am a huge worrier especially late at night. That’s when worries seem to come alive. I will try your visualization. Sounds like a simple yet great idea!!! So hard to break old habits….
It is hard to break the worry habit but so worth it!
Ah the power of visualization! Glad it’s working for you, Doreen.
#KeepMovingForward is a great idea for a meme!
Kelly had a great idea, she often does:)
I love the meme because it is only once a week!
***Before that recent surgery I pictured myself on the other side of recovery enjoying a steak and a salad, smiling. ***
Fabulous visualization!! x
Thank you, it is a work in progress!
Great job on this week’s post, my friend! I, too, used to daydream a lot as a kid, which ultimately fostered a love of dramatic writing. I had so many storyline ideas that I could visualize, and the only way to move them forward (heehee) was to write them down.
I’m excited to see what this week has to offer!
Thank you Kelly! See you Wednesday!