Trust Life Today

Wanna Know How to Stop Worrying?

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Stop worrying

Maybe you’ve seen this before.  It was one of those things that got passed around via email and landed in my inbox last year.  I decided to dust it off and share it with you today.

When broken down in this format, it appears pretty simple.  No matter which way you go, all arrows point to: Then don’t worry.  And although every bit of what’s in this diagram is true, how many of us still find it difficult to stop worrying on a daily basis?  Hourly basis?

Hmm….

Simple.  True.  Yet we still worry.  I actually get why that is.  I believe that the main reason we still worry is because it’s missing one key ingredient.  Yes, it’s missing TRUST.

I’d like you to imagine that each arrow represents what it means to trust.  (Trust what?  Trust yourself…but that’s an entirely different post.)  Do you see how each arrow is a constant?  Now, as you look at each arrow, instead see trust as the constant.  See trust showing up time and time again.  With each trust-arrow, the spaces between the trust-arrows, the spaces between the words…with each breath you take, breathe in trust.  THAT is the winning combination to stop worrying.

Let’s try something:  print out this diagram, or make a simple handmade drawing, and keep it in your pocket or purse, somewhere nearby (it fits nicely on a Post-it note).  Glance at it when you begin to feel worried and walk yourself through the trust-arrows that apply to your specific situation.  See if you can breathe in trust, as you exhale out anxiety.

Over time, see if this visual sticks in your mind.  See if eventually, you can shut your eyes, and within the same second, you can see within your mind’s eye the diagram and feel a sense of calm.  No thought will even be necessary.

Like anything else, it takes practice.  Give it a try and let me know how it works for you.  (I can’t be the only weirdo it works for!)

I apologize I don’t know where this drawing originated, I’d like to give due credit.  So, Thank You to the person who created this straightforward visual to remind us not to worry…with of course, an additional element of trust.  😉

stop worrying

I hope you enjoyed today’s post.  If you haven’t signed up for your weekly dose of Love and Trust, please do!  I’ll only send you original posts I hope will inspire and ignite your heart.  You can also visit Trust Life Today on Facebook for a daily quote or saying of inspiration.

Love,
Leslie

Broken Places

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Inanimate objects break all the time.  Some we wouldn’t even consider trying to fix.

Take these pictures, for instance:

 

 

 

 

 

 

In looking closely at each one, I think we’d all agree that there would be no use in trying to mend, bind, glue, or otherwise repair any of them.

However, this is not so with humans.

As Ernest Hemingway said:

“The world breaks everyone, and afterward, some are stronger at the broken places.”

How is this so? How is it, that in our human-ness, we can withstand being broken? Broken hearts, broken spirits, just plain broken... yet we mend. And often times, we mend stronger in precisely the place we were broken.

By the mere nature of being human, we are resilient. We adapt. We rebuild. And those of us who are fortunate, as we gather our broken bits, we learn all the while — making us stronger in those exact areas.

Here’s a true story, one I think many can relate to. In high school, I was crazy about this guy. Long story short, he broke my heart, or so I thought. After a few weeks (or was it months?) of being sad and feeling broken, a blessing occurred; I call it ‘flipping the light-switch.’

Nothing prompted the light-switch. I mean, I wasn’t trying to solve any problem or figure anything out, it just flipped. And that day, as it flipped, I knew that he hadn’t really broken my heart, he hadn’t done anything to me at all.

I had been misdirecting my energy. It was as simple as that.

The light-switch, as I’ve come to know it, is Truth. The truth was he had been in my life for a reason, the relationship ended, and I learned from it. I learned to recognize and own my part (mend). I learned that going forward I would allow certain behaviors and not allow others (mend, mend). And I’m happy to say that since learning these lessons, little to no mending has been necessary after subsequent break-ups.

I was indeed stronger in the place I had been broken.

Whether it’s a broken heart, a broken spirit, or broken trust, remember these words, “…and afterward, some are stronger at the broken places.”

Are you the Some Hemingway was referring to? If not, what would it take to cause a shift so you too can be stronger at the broken places? Because the breaks will happen.

As for being stronger at the broken places, breathe into it. Your light-switch will flip when you’re ready to receive the blessing.

In the meantime, Trust.

 

See Me as Whole. Leslie’s Healing

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Sitting…sitting…sitting. Writing, backspace/delete. More writing, more backspace/delete.  20 minutes later…still sitting. I know exactly what I want to write, but for once, I have no idea how to start. Okay, dive in.

A little over two weeks ago I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I found no lump. I was simply going in for my first mammogram.  That’s right: no lump, first mammogram.

There Was No Lump

I decided to start today’s article with the facts, urging those of you who have put off having a mammogram because you haven’t felt anything through your monthly self examination, to please reconsider. As I stated, I felt no lump because there was no lump. There are different types of breast cancer, and the type I have been diagnosed with is located within the ducts, therefore cannot be felt. It’s most commonly referred to as DCIS (ductal carcinoma in situ), of which there are different grades and subtypes. Without getting into too much detail, my subtype is called Micropapillary DCIS, which is referred to as the “bad acting DCIS” and therefore treated aggressively.

One of the many pieces of good news is that it was caught early! And how fortunate, in this day and age, that within these two+ weeks, I have been able to meet with a multitude of surgeons, complete more tests and evaluations than I’d care to recap, and still manage to take an abbreviated family vacation and another short girl’s weekend getaway.

Life goes on, as it should, and must. This is merely a blip, as my friend so eloquently put it, “Your natural state is perfection and this is a small blip on your way back to perfection.” Thank you, Anne.

This, I can assure you: I am not worried. Apprehensive yes, as this is a new experience for me. But worried? No. I am precisely where I’m supposed to be and I’ve categorically chosen the exact surgeons to form my team of healing. This team came together in a unique and organic way to support me and ensure my physical and emotional health. But the blessings began well before the medical team was in place.

Meet Faith

A few years ago I became part of a group of women with a common desire to study FAITH (Finding Authenticity, Integrity, Truth, and Harmony), hence, the name of the group. Through their collective love and spirit, as well as the love and support from my family and other dear friends, I felt I was already ahead of the curve when my radiologist delivered the news to me. All of the studying I’ve done throughout the years on Trust, on Spirituality, on Understanding What Is — it has all prepared me for today, a place where I stand strong and confident in spirit, yet (finally) wise enough to know that it’s okay to be vulnerable and cry, too.

So it was only fitting when I ran into my radiologist’s office to pick up my mammogram films, that the doctor took me aside, and as we embraced, she placed “‘Faith the Lamb” in my arms.

breast cancer

Faith the Lamb

Faith is also an acronym, although not spelled in all caps. Her name stands for Friends Always In The Heart. She came about by one of my radiologist’s patients years ago. To this day, my doctor lovingly hands out Faith the Lamb to all of her newly diagnosed breast cancer patients, along with a little piece of her heart as she speaks candidly with you.

Attached to Faith’s ear was this tag (which I now keep in my wallet):

breast cancer

It’s as if the events of my life have sandwiched me between FAITH and Faith. What an incredibly blessed and fortunate woman I am.

In an effort to honor that blessing, I have chosen to share as many lessons as are appropriate with you all here, through my writing. I will not be accepting phone calls or responding to emails or texts about this subject, as I commit to only breathe positivity into this healing experience. And although answering questions may appear to be a neutral act, my experience thus far has been that it’s extremely draining for me.

I want each one of you to know how grateful I am, knowing many of you will be sending me prayers, love, light, and healing energy. For that, I Thank You.

During these next months, as I live and breathe true Trust, I ask one thing of you, and one thing only:

See Me as Whole, as Healed.

See me as whole and healed, in the present tense. I ask that you see me as whole and healed now.  As if it is already done.

Love, Leslie

~~~~

Mammograms are essential for early detection. Please post this message on your Facebook wall or forward the email if you receive it in that format; women should be made aware that self exams are not enough. This 41 year old felt no lump. There was no lump.

If you’re in the Dallas area (Richardson, TX), here is a direct link to my radiologist. Dr. Elizabeth Jekot is a bright, caring, and very thorough doctor. She and her staff will take excellent care of you, no matter if this is your first mammogram or your 50th.

 

Learning to love yourself and trust yourself is just a matter of time. Let's begin!

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