Lighten Your Load

We are getting flooded with articles about how the farmer is going broke. It’s on the news, Facebook, in the papers…everwhere. It’s a good thing that we are getting the message to those that need to see it, but we need to be careful about how this is affecting our mental health in the meantime.

Let’s take a look into this. When you read about it, hear about it, or even speak of it, how is that making you feel? Helpless? Scared? Stressed out?

If I can tell you one thing, it would be that the number one thing right now is you and your family. If you fall into the trap of helplessness it DOES NOT SOLVE any of these issues you are dealing with. There are things that we can’t immediately resolve.

So, how do we get from here to resolution without giving up our sanity?

1. Don’t make things worse.

Markets are what they are. Don’t get stuck in the cycle of saying to yourself how bad things are. It makes you feel worse. It changes the hormones in your body, it robs you of your sleep, it stresses relationships…the list goes on. When you focus on the bad you can’t gain the motivation to get out and do efficiently what you need to today. Think of it this way – when you repeat to yourself “I’m so tired” that’s what your body is going to feel – tired.

Thoughts become things

Things may be tight – but just start with today. Don’t try to solve the whole year’s financial situation today. Just do today.

2. Pay attention to what you are practicing.

If you truly want to know why you are feeling the way you are –

WRITE DOWN WHAT’S GOING ON IN THAT HEAD OF YOURS.

Just get it out. It doesn’t have to be a notebook – write it out on a chemical box, type it on your phone, write it on a napkin – JUST GET IT OUT.

Here’s why this helps:

• You purge that shit out of your head and free that space for something that can help you become more productive.
• You SEE what you are telling yourself OVER and OVER again. That’s right – we talk to ourselves in tapes. We repeat thoughts over and over again – most of the time when we don’t even realize it.
• You can visually see what’s going on. For some people, this is the breakthrough they need.
• You get to evaluate if what you are thinking is ACTUALLY TRUE. Wow-what? You read that right – we lie to ourselves all the time (in order to protect ourselves). When you start picking up on that you can see what’s working for you and what’s not.
• THOUGHTS BECOME THINGS – BECOME AWARE WHAT YOU ARE FEEDING YOUR BRAIN.

3. Be kind to yourself.

Yeah, I went there. I’m not just talking about all that mushy stuff (and yes that’s important). I’m talking about all that extra that pressure you are putting on yourself. YOU DON’T HAVE TO HAVE ALL THE ANSWERS. All you can do is the best you can do and then start again tomorrow. Sometimes a short sleep (I’m being realistic) and another sunrise can give you the clarity you need.

In conclusion, we are going to get through this but we are not going to have another today. Don’t lose out on this time with yourself and your family over something beyond our control. Do what you can to move mountains and work to not lose yourself in the meantime.

Much love,

KM♥