No matter what the problems are that we’re trying to cope with, a major source of frustration is trying to encompass too much at once. We forget that we need to deal with only one day at a time, and try to crowd too much into the waking hours of that day-or we even extend it beyond the point of weariness. We can get more out of each hour-and accomplish more-if we try to cope with only as much as is possible in that oe day.
We find such relaxed-and relaxing-counsel in the helpful little folder, Just For Today, which gives us, amond others, the following:
Today’s Reminder
“Just for today I will live through this day only, and not tackle all my problems at once. I can do something for 12 hours that would appall me if I felt I had to keep it up for a lifetime.”
I will slow my pace. If I am under pressure and setting myself deadlines and worrying about tomorrow, I will stop for a few minutes and think - of just this one day and what I can do with it.
“For there is a time…for every purpose and for every work.” Ecclesiastes
One Day At A Time, pg. 19
One day at a time. Balance, homeostasis, serenity, it is what we all want in life. Sometimes we do or think or say things that send us into extremes. Balance means taking in the whole picture. It means not missing the other important things going on around us for focusing on the negative. Or the positive for that matter. Taking a half hour to ourselves when we need it is important.
But what do we do with that half hour? Are we looking for ways to improve ourselves? Are we looking for ways to grow? to learn? or are we using it to escape? Are we identifying what we need? Are we finding ways to communicate it in a positive way? We can ask, ” What can I do with today? What can I do in this moment? How do I reach clear thinking? How do I return to balance?”
We can look for those answers, meditate, pray, read to learn and be open to new ways of thinking. When we are attempting to solve a problem, or deal with a deadline, and our previous ways of doing that have been unsuccessful we need to find a new way to deal with these things, to think differently about a path to a solution. Every time there is something that comes up it is an opportunity to work on this.
Today I will keep in mind that in every “problem” there is the opportunity to “learn” a solution.
I needed this reminder. I was already starting my day feeling bad about the future.
I’ve been waking up in the middle of the night for the last few nights, gripped with fear and sorrow. Last night, I prayed for a release, and was immediately given the image of a fire escape. I imagined the peacefulness of being outside, looking into the night. I was able to fall back asleep.
Now that I’m awake, I’m thinking again of the fire escape. Maybe God is telling me the worst is behind me. Maybe I survived the fire. I got out safely. Maybe I should realize that there’s always someplace safe to go. That nothing is too great for God. He opened the window. I’m going to be ok. I’ve got this one day; let’s see what I do with it.
Hey, I nominated you for the versatile blogger award, please accept it–you rock! http://doctortisms.wordpress.com/2012/01/19/versatile-blogger/