I was reading Confessions of a Shopaholic
recently and ran across a passage that struck a chord with me … the main character is avoiding thinking about increasingly urgent letters from banks and creditors, trying to push these worries out of her mind:
“I’m well aware that at the back of my mind, thumping quietly like a drumbeat, are the twin horrors of Guilt and Panic.
“Guilt Guilt Guilt Guilt.
“Panic Panic Panic Panic.
“If I let them, they’d swoop in and take over. I’d feel completely paralyzed with misery and fear. So the trick I’ve learned is simply not to listen. My mind is very well trained like that.”
This passage struck a chord because I’ve been there. I’ve had those horrors of guilt and panic at the back of my mind, many times.
I’ve done it with debt — I let the letters from creditors pile up, trying to ignore them, not wanting to face them.
I’ve done it with my health, knowing I was growing overweight, not wanting to think about the things I was eating.
I’ve done it with smoking, knowing it was bad for me, but trying not to think about it, puffing away.
I’ve done it with projects that I knew I should be working on, but didn’t want to think about them … because I was afraid, for some reason, to face them.
Does any of this sound familiar? Do you have fears lurking in the deepest, darkest corners of your mind? Fears you don’t want to face and try to push back, closing your eyes so you don’t have to see how horrible they are?
If so, I highly recommend you face them now. Be bold and brave. Bring them out into the light of day.
It’s an amazing relief when you actually do face these fears. They actually turn out to be not so bad, not so overwhelming or intimidating. It’s a huge load off your shoulders — you’re liberated from your fear!
Follow the ‘via’ link above if you’d like the rest of Leo’s thoughts…
Bright, shiny objects! 