Language of Letting Go - June 26
Nature Girl
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Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
Language of Letting Go - June 26
You are reading from the book The Language of Letting Go
Surviving Slumps
A slump can go on for days. We feel sluggish, unfocused, and sometimes overwhelmed with feelings we can't sort out. We may not understand what is going on with us. Even our attempts to practice recovery behaviors may not appear to work. We still don't feel emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as good as we would like.
In a slump, we may find ourselves reverting instinctively to old patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, even when we know better. We may find ourselves obsessing, even when we know that what we're doing is obsessing and that it doesn't work.
We may find ourselves looking frantically for other people to make us feel better, the whole time knowing our happiness and well being does not lay with others.
We may begin taking things personally that are not our issues, and reacting in ways we've learned all to well do not work.
We're in a slump. It won't last forever. These periods are normal, even necessary. These are the days to get through. These are the days to focus on recovery behaviors, whether or not the rewards occur immediately. These are sometimes the days to let ourselves be and love ourselves as much as we can.
We don't have to be ashamed, no matter how long we've been recovering. We don't have to unreasonably expect "more" from ourselves. We don't ever have to expect ourselves to live life perfectly.
Get through the slump. It will end. Sometimes, a slump can go on for days and then, in the course of an hour, we see ourselves pull out of it and feel better. Sometimes it can last a little longer.
Practice one recovery behavior in one small area, and begin to climb uphill. Soon, the slump will disappear. We can never judge where we will be tomorrow by where we are today.
Today, I will focus on practicing one recovery behavior on one of my issues, trusting that this practice will move me forward. I will remember that acceptance, gratitude, and detachment are a good place to begin.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation.
Surviving Slumps
A slump can go on for days. We feel sluggish, unfocused, and sometimes overwhelmed with feelings we can't sort out. We may not understand what is going on with us. Even our attempts to practice recovery behaviors may not appear to work. We still don't feel emotionally, mentally, and spiritually as good as we would like.
In a slump, we may find ourselves reverting instinctively to old patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving, even when we know better. We may find ourselves obsessing, even when we know that what we're doing is obsessing and that it doesn't work.
We may find ourselves looking frantically for other people to make us feel better, the whole time knowing our happiness and well being does not lay with others.
We may begin taking things personally that are not our issues, and reacting in ways we've learned all to well do not work.
We're in a slump. It won't last forever. These periods are normal, even necessary. These are the days to get through. These are the days to focus on recovery behaviors, whether or not the rewards occur immediately. These are sometimes the days to let ourselves be and love ourselves as much as we can.
We don't have to be ashamed, no matter how long we've been recovering. We don't have to unreasonably expect "more" from ourselves. We don't ever have to expect ourselves to live life perfectly.
Get through the slump. It will end. Sometimes, a slump can go on for days and then, in the course of an hour, we see ourselves pull out of it and feel better. Sometimes it can last a little longer.
Practice one recovery behavior in one small area, and begin to climb uphill. Soon, the slump will disappear. We can never judge where we will be tomorrow by where we are today.
Today, I will focus on practicing one recovery behavior on one of my issues, trusting that this practice will move me forward. I will remember that acceptance, gratitude, and detachment are a good place to begin.
From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie ©1990, Hazelden Foundation.
Nature Girl
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2002
Location: By The Lake
Posts: 60,328
I used to worry about slumps, thinking that I must not be working my program properly if I still fall into days that are just slumps.
The truth is, recovery is about surviving the slumps, not avoiding them because every single life has slumps now and then.
Today I tend to just ride with the slump and let it wear itself out, or distract myself by doing something fun. Sometimes just not trying so hard, not working my program so hard, is just what I need. A slump can just mean a day off for me, to just show up and let life happen. Slumps can be healthy if I let them.
Hugs
The truth is, recovery is about surviving the slumps, not avoiding them because every single life has slumps now and then.
Today I tend to just ride with the slump and let it wear itself out, or distract myself by doing something fun. Sometimes just not trying so hard, not working my program so hard, is just what I need. A slump can just mean a day off for me, to just show up and let life happen. Slumps can be healthy if I let them.
Hugs
Member
Join Date: Dec 2003
Posts: 12,136
I agree - this came at just the right time for me, too.
In a major slump - feeling depressed, tired, and sluggish. Keep looking around and thinking I need to clean the house - but I think I'll just do a little tidy instead and give my body the rest it needs today.
Thanks.
In a major slump - feeling depressed, tired, and sluggish. Keep looking around and thinking I need to clean the house - but I think I'll just do a little tidy instead and give my body the rest it needs today.
Thanks.
Member
Join Date: Sep 2006
Location: East Coast/the lovers state
Posts: 71
hello Ann & Greet this is Sean. sometimes i feel in a slump, but to help get past it i remember where i've been when i just thought life itself was a bottomless slump. today if i can feel the slump that means i must have been feeling good before and then i can tell myself with patience and dedication to my program i will learn through, and get back to where things are better.
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Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: punta gorda florida
Posts: 381
I was in a slump all day. I just put one foot in front of the other and keep going. I figured it would pass. I didn't get to read this post til 9pm...It got me over my slump and made me laugh...thanx ann
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Join Date: Mar 2006
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Originally Posted by Life Change 
hello Ann & Greet this is Sean. sometimes i feel in a slump, but to help get past it i remember where i've been when i just thought life itself was a bottomless slump. today if i can feel the slump that means i must have been feeling good before and then i can tell myself with patience and dedication to my program i will learn through, and get back to where things are better.
((((Sean))))(((((Sean's Mom)))))
Seeing you here certainly brings a big smile! Missed you! Hope all is well.
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Join Date: Jun 2007
Posts: 13
Ann, you are fast becoming my hero - your words always seem to hit me just when i need to read them - thank you so much for posting that from the MB book - which i am off to get tomorrow. I needed to read those passages so very much tonight - thank you, thank you and again, thank you
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