Over and Out

My friends and I were texting about all the things which we have found ourselves “overdoing” during this virus crisis. We’ve been over-eating and/or over-drinking and/or over-spending on frivolous impulse items, just to try to make ourselves feel better in the moment. My one friend said that we must add “over-thinking” to the list. It’s true, isn’t it? There is something strangely lulling, yet also at the same time, rather titillating, about obsessing over COVID numbers or big storms or upcoming elections or “masks versus no masks” or the economy or back to school procedures. But no matter whatever we are over-indulging in, the relief is always fleeting and temporary. And then, much like any type of an addiction, the relief quickly wears off, often turning into remorse and regret and shame, which triggers our need for temporary “fixes” again, starting the cycle all over again.

It always comes back to mindfulness, doesn’t it? When we can become our own detached observers, and we notice when we have tipped our toes too deep into the overindulgence arena, in any of the various facets of our own lives, that is when we can mindfully choose different options for ourselves. When we notice our emotions and triggers, and we can find healthy alternatives for self soothing, we find that the overwhelming emotions will pass sooner than we thought they would. When managed healthfully, no regret will be left in the wake of a passing negative emotion. In fact, working on changing bad habits, can give us a sense of control in our lives, and who doesn’t want to feel like they have a little bit more control back, in these unsure times in the world?

I like this simple, concise meme about how to change bad habits: