Set the Timer

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 4 year old 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.