Stella's Example
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Last Tuesday I attended my regular Recovery meeting. On my drive home I felt the car go over a bump. Immediately the usual thought came--had I run over or hit someone. I began to work myself up. I looked out the back window to check. My stomach felt like to was churning and I had very anxious feelings in my chest. It was hard for me to breathe and I impulsively pulled the car over to the side of the highway so I could turn around and go back to check. Then I started to spot that my feelings did not reveal a fact. That my anxiety, stomach and breathing difficulties were nervous symptoms; distressing, but not dangerous. I could command my muscles not to turn around, but to keep on driving home, which I did. By the time I arrived home the symptoms had become much milder, although I had a vague feeling of anxiousness. I spotted this as average and it soon left. I really endorsed myself because it took a lot of effort and courage to ignore my discomfort and not give in to it. Before Recovery, Inc., I would have retraced my drive, looking for an injured person. This fear seemed to affect all situations in my life. When I shopped, if I saw a flaw in anything, I would buy it, even if I didn't want it, just in case I had somehow caused the flaw. I'm on medication which helps and of course practicing Recovery, Inc. is helping a lot too. Further Spotting! Dell-- I spot feelings are not facts. Just because Stella "felt" that she had done something, didn't make it an actual fact. Tim-- Stella had the will to bear discomfort when she continued on in spite of her symptoms. She did a good piece of spotting and endorsing. Tracy-- I liked the way she spotted her feelings of anxiety as being average. She didn't turn this into an emergency. What does that mean? will to bear discomfort-- In Recovery, we talk about will-training, and how we make choices. Stella practiced the will to bear discomfort rather than the will to comfort.
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