Monday, April 15, 2013

Day #27: A Little Pressure, A Little Progress

From the Orange Rhino:

Today, I am grateful for you all, seriously. Right now I am going through a tough spot in my life. Opening up these daily emails from last go-around are so uncannily timed that it blows me away. I needed to read this email today, so much so that I decided again to write something new and share this.  Meanwhile, I continue to root for you!!!

*

Last night, I blogged about feeling like I was in a pressure cooker http://theorangerhino.com/pressure-cooker/ . Sometimes I do really well under pressure; it inspires me, pushes me, and I excel. Other times, it paralyzes me and I can’t handle it; it makes me stressed and cranky.

How do you handle pressure? Does it help you or hinder you? How do you handle pressure in relation to this challenge? I have heard from many a people that knowing I went 365 days stresses them out because they reach for that all day no yelling thing and can’t do it. Once they can’t do it, they feel such pressure to be able to do it that things spiral out of control. If you are feeling the latter, remember that this is YOUR challenge, your goal. Make sure your personal goal is hard enough to inspire you but easy enough to not paralyze you.

TODAY’s THOUGHTs:
“Talking is a hydrant in the yard and writing is a faucet upstairs in the house. Opening the first takes pressure off the second.”
~ Robert Frost

Okay, well take the writing bit out and I love this quote! If you are feeling pressure, start talking, as it will help you figure things out. Talk to a friend and say why you are having a hard time; it might make you feel better. Talk to yourself, asking yourself WHY, why, why and you might get and AHA! That takes pressure off. Just get a talking! Yesterday I had to write an article. I was stuck, stuck, stuck. The pressure was getting to me. I started talking my thoughts over with my husband and the pressure came off as I got clarity.

“A diamond is a chunk of coal made good under pressure.” ~Henry Kissinger

Who doesn’t like diamonds?! I know many of us are not getting diamonds today but we all have the potential to take the yelling we have in our lives and turn it into something beautiful like a more loving relationship with our kids. So again, let a little pressure into your life. Not so much that the diamond in the words cracks, but enough that it is made!

TODAY’s ACTIONs:
1. Review your goal. Is it helping or hindering? Remind yourself to go one moment at a time. If your goal is too big, pick one moment to focus on.

2. Write in this post your progress. Yes, progress. I have found that when I start talking and writing I realize that I am in a better place than I thought and it’s motivating.
password: icanyellless



TODAY’s TIP:
If you haven’t already, create an Orange Rhino Emergency Basket. Have fun with it! Go to Target and have your kids help pick out a fun orange gift bag or basket. Then do a scavenger hunt for a few orange things that you both can use in emergency. Silly Putty. Crayons (color instead of yelling). Nail polish. Bubbles. Cheez its. Then go home and fill the bag/basket. In case of emergency, when you feel stress coming on, run over and grab something out and use that. Maybe even have your kiddos make a bag for themselves too!


No comments:

Post a Comment