After reading Chapter 3 of our text, I have come to the
conclusion that there are some strategies that I have mastered and there are
some that I have not. Two strategies I feel I have mastered are setting
realistic goals and regulating my emotions and behavior while trying to reach
said goals, and the other is avoiding negative emotions as much as possible. I
have come to realize that throughout my life and the many ups and downs that
comes with it, that setting goals has become a priority, and realistic ones at
that. As a kid growing up, you aspire to become rich and famous and have all
the amazingly expensive things in the world; however as you get older you
realize that isn’t always possible and so then you set goals. More times than
not your first goals are so out of reach that you become frustrated when you do
not meet them, it’s impossible. Baby steps are my motto, start off small and
work up from there. I always try to make myself realize that certain goals take
set amounts of time and to become frustrated over them is more detrimental,
then you just want to give up. Now I know what my goals are, I know how long it
will take and I’m ok with that, I’ve come to terms. The other strategy is
avoiding negative emotions. The last couple years have been hell on emotions;
losing over 7 family members it sure can take a toll on you physically and
mentally. However I have learned that you must push on, you must persevere and
if you let the crappy emotions overtake you, you’re only setting yourself back
even further. Every day I do something strictly for myself, whether it’s
watching a movie, getting a cup of coffee from the shop or just sitting outside
enjoying the day. I do what I need to clear my head of all that negativity and
make room for happy thoughts. Believe you and me, happy thoughts were nonexistent
a few months ago, but learning from the death of my dad, and how he enjoyed
every last minute he had on earth and he never once let a bad thought get him
down. He kept thinking good thoughts to the very end, which is enough to make
me say “hey, ok if he can do it, I sure as heck can too”. One strategy I want
my young daughter to master is realizing that she can make a difference in
life, not just hers. She’s just ten and at that tender age life is at a
crossroads, you can go down the bumpy path, or take the smooth road. I wish she
knew just how amazing she is, and what a ray of sun she has been and is to so
many people around her.
One strategy that I wish to master is being aware of my
stress level. I usually don’t pay attention to it and then it’s too late and I
blow up….at everything and those around me (never the kids though). I am always so busy caring for my family and I
don’t realize how negatively the stress of it all is affecting me.
No comments:
Post a Comment