#368 – What will you gain when you quit catastrophizing?

Catastrophizing leads to paralysis––your Ego's preferred state for you. Quitting is as liberating as breaking any other addiction.

Yesterday, while running along the bay in my barefoot shoes, my left foot landed on a pointy, walnut-size rock. At first, I was happy with how my foot had adapted instead of my losing balance and falling. But after a few more steps, a hot wave of pain radiated and I stopped.

As I limped back home––grimacing to show that this was real pain, not my giving up––my mind projected the potential outcomes.

One or more of my tiny foot bones/ligaments could be broken. My foot would get swollen. No walking for weeks––let alone running! I'd lose the progress I'd made in the past two weeks. I'd regain the weight I'd started to shed!

I started to feel sorry for myself. Again, a victim of circumstance.

Ha! Gotcha! What part of me, if not my Ego, wanted me a "victim of circumstance?" What, if not my Ghost of Physical Ailments, was projecting those horrendous consequences of the incident?

If I believed what they said, I had no option but to stomp, fists clenched, and blame my bad luck––and the unconscionable individual who'd left the hazardous rock there.

If I took those voices at face value, I'd get stuck in my victimhood. Stuck in the familiar zone of woe is me!, risking nothing, learning nothing, gaining nothing.

Ego 1, True Self 0.

I refused. Instead, I became curious. "Hm," I said, "I wonder how the pain will evolve in the next few days."

Today, I'm already pretty sure that I'll be able to run tomorrow (despite a bruise on my left sole).

What catastrophic thinking will you drop to gain a smidge of freedom?

Love,

Carolina