I was talking to a friend one day about something I planned to do. Actually, I was worrying about how one particular person might react to what I intended to do.
"What if he doesn't handle it very well?" I asked.
"Then," my friend replied, "you're going to have to handle it well."
What ifs can make us crazy. They put control over our life in someone else's hands. What ifs are a sign that we have reverted to thinking that people have to react in a particular way for us to continue on our course.
What ifs are also a clue that we may be wondering whether we can trust ourselves and our Higher Power to do what's best for us. These are shreds of codependent ways of thinking, feeling, and behaving, and they signal fear.
The reactions, feelings, likes or dislikes of others don't have to control our behaviors, feelings, and direction. We don't need to control how others react to our choices. We can trust ourselves, with help from a Higher Power, to handle any outcome - even the most uncomfortable. And, my friend, we can trust ourselves to handle it well.
Today, I will not worry about other people's reactions, or events outside of my control. Instead, I will focus on my reactions. I will handle my life well today and trust that, tomorrow, I can do the same.
Thanks for this one! I drive myself crazy with "what ifs"! They lead to inaction most of the time-and that I regret a lot! I'd say I kick myself more for things I don't have the guts to do more than even mistakes I've made by doing things!
And you can't change if you are hung up on the "what ifs"- and change is what I really need! I need to turn of those nasty thoughts like "what if" this goes wrong, or "what if" this person thinks this, or whatever other "what ifs" creep into my brain. This is MY life, and MY problem, and I need to do what I feel I must-speculation using "what if" does not help me!
Thanks for pointing out another tricky little immobilizer I forgot I face each day!
