Finding Beauty in the Now 

This is for the chronic worriers – the ones constantly bracing for the weight of tomorrow. I think many of us believe that if we can control everything, then our lives will be perfect. We begin to think that if we plan enough, worry enough and work enough we can control what happens next in our lives. We feel a heavy obligation to brace ourselves for every possible outcome life might throw at us. And we end up losing sleep over a tomorrow we can’t even see yet. And so it begins, the endless loop of “What if this happens?” Maybe I should do that just in case. Sometimes we replay scenarios in our heads, and we try to fix problems that haven’t happened yet. 

And if things don’t go the way we planned in our minds we begin to feel out of control. We feel anxious both when we try to control the future, and when we realize we cannot. It is hard to feel at peace when you are constantly stressing about what’s next or wishing things had turned out differently. It completely robs us of the present moment.  

Presence is not something that you have to force. It’s what is leftover once you stop fighting reality. When you finally stop trying to fix what comes next, your mind will naturally drop back into the room you are in. We spend so much time bracing for what’s next that we completely miss the beauty of what is. Whether it’s the mountains on your drive to work, the way your son or daughter laughs, maybe it’s your dog or cat coming to greet you when come home, or maybe it’s simply just the quiet space to breathe and just feel.  

If your mind won’t stop racing, take a second to look at what’s actually in your hands or around you. You can control how you breathe, how you act, and how kind you are. You can’t control the weather, what people think of you, or what’s on the news tomorrow. Focus on your part and let the rest go. And when your brain asks, what if everything goes wrong? Gently remind yourself What if everything goes right? Or even better What if I am strong enough to handle whatever happens? 

You do not need to figure out the next 10 steps of your life today. You only need to take one step right in front of you. This is your reminder to take a breath. Remind yourself to be in the present moment. Take each day at a time. It’s okay if you don’t have everything figured out yet. That’s the beauty of life; we all have our own unique journey. 

 Here’s to your good health! 

It’s okay not to feel okay. 

If you or someone you know has been struggling with their emotions, behaviors, or substance use please reach out to us. We can help you find appropriate tools and services that could help you overcome obstacles in your life. We are here for you. Please contact the Southern Ute Behavioral Health Division at 970-563-5700 for more information or to set up an appointment to see a counselor or therapist. 

Reminder: If you need to talk to someone, please reach out. 

And for those interested in opioid use education, harm reduction, and support, please contact us for quick Naloxone (Narcan) training and fentanyl test strips. We can schedule individual, family, or friends training times at our Southern Ute Behavioral Health Building, or we can come to you, and the training is around 30 minutes. Please call us at 970-563-5700 to set up a training appointment.