Time Commitment: 1 hour
Ok! So, I'm taking advice that I've gotten from my Mom a million times, and I'm sharing it with YOU (because it works...sigh)! Today, I am working with Worry. To me, Worry is about control. Worry is trying to control a situation with our minds without actually doing anything about it. Some situations don't directly involve us and we cannot make choices for other people, so we Worry, thinking thats all we can do. Here is something we can do to resolve that Worry.Procedure: We are going to write a letter to the person/people we are worried about. This is not about putting pressure on yourself to write something incredibly inspiring. This process is about being honest with, and taking care of yourself.
*There is no requirement saying you even have to send this very personal letter*
Feel free to do a "brainstorm" first. Write phrases, thoughts, ideas, and feelings down as they relate to your Worry. Use these to guide your letter. Beware of tangents by coming back to your feelings in regards to the matter. Your own feelings, no one else's. Be honest. Note how you are feeling in your body, as well as emotion-wise. (My hands were trembling as I wrote my letter...)
If you are planning on sending your letter, read and re-read the finished product-- how would YOU feel if someone wrote this letter to you? If your answer is in the ballpark of "judged" or "offended," you may not want to send it. This is perfectly fine as well, because venting in a letter and not sending it is just as helpful!!!(and, yes, that is a picture of a "Howler" message from Harry Potter)
When finished writing, let your Worry release. It is all written down for you to come back to if you choose. Let that Worry live on the paper; it has a new home, and doesn't need to reside in your body and brain anymore.
Why this is wonderful: This is a good way to externalize your feelings in word-form. Externalizing is getting it out! The process helps to dislodge this Worry and keep it from affecting you in an unhealthy way. Obviously, it will still affect you in some ways because you CARE :) but it is not your burden to carry.
Also, if you decide to send your letter, the authenticity and vulnerability you displayed within may just open new, deeper avenues of communication with the person/people you send it to.
PS. Mine goes out with the mail tomorrow. Fingers crossed. <3
