Climb to the Balcony

When we are anxious and worried, we often lose perspective. We get so caught up in our present challenge that we forget how many times similar events have worked out just fine in the past. We fail to remember how many storms we have weathered successfully.

• Pretend you are high on a balcony where you can look back over the last few months or even years. Can you see all of the rough spots, challenges, pain, and difficult times that you have survived?
• How did you cope with each of them? What helped you to get through those times successfully?
• Now, in the scope of things — where does your current situation fit? Is it the worst thing you've faced to date — something that you've been "training" to handle for years? Or is it similar to a few you've weathered before? Or — now that you think about it — is it not quite as bad as other situations you've handled?

When life spins out of control, and you find yourself in a crisis, remember the many mountains you have climbed.

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Excerpted from Recharge in Minutes ©2003 Suzanne Zoglio, PhD www.zoglio.com Buy the book

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