Every Friday, I post Affirmations. I like the idea of setting my intentions as I reflect on the past week and look ahead to the weekend.
As I’ve mentioned multiple times, I’m a terrible sleeper. However, I’ve been working on improving my sleeping habits. I recently hung up some drapes to keep my room dark at night, and block out my neighbors’ security light, which would flood my room whenever it came on, disrupting my sleep. I’ve also gotten better about staying away from my electronics close to bedtime (well, still working on that), and settling in to read a book before I go to sleep. All of those things are helping. But one of the most helpful things I’ve done is replace my stressful, middle-of-the-night thoughts with affirmations.
Have you ever seen someone walking a large dog, who is then distracted by a squirrel? Maybe the person is equally distracted by their cell phone or a friend on the other side of the street. Then their dog takes off after the squirrel and the person is mercilessly jerked around until they can regain control of the canine.
Let go or be dragged, as they say.
This week, I’ve been reflecting on several lifestyle changes I’ve made since leaving Idaho and returning to California. We keep our habits, healthy or otherwise, because they become our routine. It’s what we know. We’re comfortable with them.
What we don’t realize is that sometimes those habits – like, say, scrolling through the internet on a device in the dark every night while we slowly but irreparably damage our vision – are doing more harm than good. They no longer serve us.
Like the person being pulled at the other end of the leash, we’re stubborn. And we’re afraid to change. Even if it’s for our own good.
Unfortunately, that’s exactly the problem.
So, this week, my affirmation is: I will let go of what is no longer serving me so that I will not be dragged.
That means not worrying about things I can’t control. That means having faith in my ability to earn a steady income. That means putting myself first instead of last.
Because I’m tired of being dragged.
Here’s to a better night’s sleep, and a restful weekend.
Do you use affirmations?