Day 12: Walking Forward Frustrated

After John’s messengers left, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see?  A reed swayed by the wind?” Luke 7:24
How does one go about feeling motivated when they are in bad mood? 
Yesterday, I advised a client that, if she wanted to meet her goal, she may have to move forward feeling afraid.  We talked about cognitive distortions and walked through two visualizations.  First, she pretended to put on her negative glasses and imagined what see saw and experienced.  Then, she put on her positive glasses and imagined what she saw and experienced.  In the end, she determined that the positive perception was a more realistic perception than the negative perspective.  I watched her feelings change and she processed her beliefs and perceptions.  She moved from state of fear and anxiety to a state of joy and self-confidence. 
We agreed that she still may experience fear as her brain processes false evidence that appears real, but that she could challenge her stinking thinking and still move forward feeling afraid.  Through the process, she would gain confidence.  As she gains confidence, she will handle situations differently which will result in more positive outcomes.  Walking forward afraid will begin to morph into walking forward in confidence.    
This morning, I am going to take my own advice.  I woke up on the wrong side of the bed, and I feel tired and grumpy.  I feel like giving up.  I feel like laying in front of the t.v. and not writing this blog.  Thank God I do not have to be a victim to my feelings!  My feelings are fickle.  They change so much.  I’m like the Florida weather…mostly sunny, but periods of rain and thunder!  LOL! 
Rather than walking forward afraid, I am walking forward frustrated.  The important thing is that I continue to walk forward!