Tuesday, February 03, 2009

Set the Timer


TACKLE IT TUESDAY

Have you ever been paralyzed by news so desperate, that you can hardly breathe? A phone call so shocking that it hurts to blink? An email so disturbing that you can feel you stomach flip?

When you love a prodigal, you may think you're having a great day....until the phone rings. This is true for anyone who loves anyone....life happens.

Yesterday was a day like that.

News so shocking that I didn't remember to set the timer....until I had wasted four hours of pouting!

Set the timer?

Setting the timer is an effective tool that I have used for years. Ever feel like you just can't face another moment of the day--aimlessly wandering from room to room--feeling guilty about the things you should be doing....but no longer have the energy to do--shoot, to even think about?

I set the timer. I give myself a designated amount of time....to just do nothing.

Well, that's not exactly true: I might cry, I might pray. I might argue with God, I might journal.

What does the timer do? It allows me an official amount of time to sit in my paralysis of thought, action or deed.

It works!

There are only two rules:

While the timer is on....you must do nothing until it rings

When the timer goes off...you must return to functioning.

"Setting the timer" is not just for the overwhelming times in our lives--it works effectively for four year tantrums OR 54 year old tantrums! Putting value on your emotions is never a waste of time. When you set the timer, you are on notice--it is time to feel....so you will begin to heal.

9 comments:

Cynthia said...

Hey friend! Congratulations on your award! I see you've been so busy. Will you do me a favor and ask Dawn to send me an invite to her blog to cindygreen@bellsouth.net? I can't get her blog since I changed over.

Dawn said...

I should definitely have done that several times this last week!

na said...

I really need to do that...I can stew over things all night and get nothing else done (like last night!)

Great tackle!

Valerie said...

Now I know why we are "sister of the heart" - it's because we think so much alike. This is a coping mechanism I've used for years, but ESPECIALLY over the last 3 months. It really works!

Unknown said...

Great idea! I could have used it in the past 6 months!

Sorry you had a tough day yesterday. But glad you are functioning again today.

Nadine said...

I'm so sorry for your hard day yesterday. I pray it gets better. I like this idea. I never thought of it and I'm going to use it next time I have a bad day.

Karen said...

I liked what you said - "it is time to feel....so you will begin to heal. Having been there with a prodigal and hearing news that seems to stop my heart, your timer suggestion is one I will definitely try. Anything to help the healing process...

Congratulations on your award! You deserved it for sure!

Red Bridges Home said...

That is an excellent idea - I need to remember this. Thanks Diane!

Eli's Lids said...

Great tip! Today I took a 20 minute "me time" and it was great!