A Balloon in the Wind

Imagine for a second that you are a balloon in a wind storm, tethered on a long string.

Because your string is long, you are whipping around back and forth. It is so difficult to stay still and calm because the storm tosses you about.

This is the feeling I get when I am using positive thinking. It’s fleeting. One moment, I’m on track and then the winds of life pick up and I’m tossed the other direction. I can’t find my stillness or calmness. An example would be when I’m afraid of judgment from others. I try to positive think my way through it, “Oh don’t worry about what others think, it’s not a big deal.” When I think these things, I feel maybe a single moment of relief, but it’s superficial and fleeting. And the next moment it’s gone, and I’m back in the wind, uncertain, worried and anxious.

But when I use positive feeling, my string shortens by half. It’s a bit easier to stay still and calm. Positive feeling in my example would be changing my feeling of uncertainty and worry into feelings of ease and self-appreciation. This is more effective than positive thinking and in fact even makes positive thinking easier to do, but honestly, I have to work at it. I have to keep myself in check as my balloon can still be whipped around in the wind.

But there is something that snaps me to stillness, something that pulls me to calm like a retractable leash on my balloon. And that is positive knowing. Positive knowing is the short cut to positive feeling and positive thinking. It is about going deeper within to the things you know to be true and good. It’s about reminding yourself of the bigger picture, the deeper roots, the higher purpose. It doesn’t pretend the wind isn’t there. It doesn’t deny life’s problems. It simply secures you as the wind blows.

Here’s some of the things I remind myself. They snap me right back to the hand that holds me in the winds of life.

Everything happens for a reason.

I am one person on a tiny planet in a huge universe. In the grand scheme of things, this problem is insignificant.

I exist. Therefore I am loved. I am loved. Therefore I have value.

God didn’t get me this far to only get me this far.

God’s got me.

This too shall pass.

Everything is redeemable.

The moment I remind myself of these things I know to be true and good, I’m no longer tossed about. I’m held close, calmly and faithfully. My wild feelings settle down. My chaotic thoughts find peace. The wind blows but I am ok.

What things do you know to be true and good? What if you remind yourself of these things when the wind blows?

Here’s to Conquering Stress,

The Stress Experts