If you’re like me, you go through periods of gut-wrenching but baseless worry. Your mind spins with thoughts of everything that could go wrong in your life, and you can’t seem to make it stop. Or you’re suddenly gripped with terrible premonitions of something awful happening to you or your loved ones. You can’t shut down the swirling vortex of stress, and you wonder what’s wrong with you that you can’t just – calm – down.
One night when I was trying to get to sleep, my mind was whirling with thoughts of something terrible happening to my toddler son. I tried to calm myself, but no go. I even tried one of my favorite meditation podcasts. No dice.
Then, out of the blue, I said to myself, “Worrying about things that will probably never happen…typical human.”
Suddenly, my mind calmed down. There was something about acknowledging that everyone goes through this, and that it’s a normal (if not pleasant) part of the human condition, that stopped the thoughts in their tracks.
Now I use this phrase all the time, typically with a little chuckle:
- My thoughts are flying so fast that I can’t even keep track, much less slow them down: “Typical human.” (Is there anyone this does not happen to, Zen masters excluded?)
- My husband is twenty minutes late and I have visions of a terrible car wreck: “Typical human.” (I’ve heard the same story from everyone I know.)
- I just got back from a party and am deluged with fears that no one liked me: “Typical human.” (Everyone worries that other people don’t like them!)
It’s like magic. Seriously. Try it yourself and post your experiences in the Comments below! I look forward to hearing how it worked for you.
One I love is “erase.” I use it when I start thinking negative, catastrophic, or disempowering thoughts (“I’m the world’s worst human!” “The sky is falling and there is nothing I can do about it!”) I’ve learned that I can’t argue with such thoughts (and sometimes the sky is falling and there isn’t anything I can do about it) but such thoughts are not helpful coping mechanisms. “Erase!” always makes me smile and resets my thinking.
Jennifer
Wow, the only difference between our methods is the wording! Love it. It really does reset your thinking. I hope it works for others too.
This is kind of like when I flick people aside with a single finger and say, “puny human!”
But seriously, this is good advice to have a small phrase to remind yourself that the way you’re feeling is not unusual. I would venture to say it’s more typical for people to feel like they are overwhelmed than like they have life completely together!
Puny human…I’m going to use that!
I agree…for example, it always feels like the moms of toddlers I know have their acts completely together, and when I say that, they tell me that they most certainly do not.
My mantra when my mind is full of worry and anxiety is “Let go. Let God.” For those of us who have spiritual faith, these words work wonders to relieve stress. Give it a try!
That’s a great one too! Thanks!
Great advice Linda! I’ll have to try that the next time I wake at 3 AM and can’t sleep without thinking about all the stuff that could go wrong in life.
During normal wake hours, I have an advantage. I entertain my mind with walking around the neighborhood, playing with my dogs or turning on the TV. In the early AM, I’m at the mercy of those “naughty” thoughts no matter what positive thought mantra I tell myself.
When it happens again, I’ll try your two words…”Typical human”. It’s going to work.
Thanks so much, Chamois! Yes, nighttime is when there are no distractions to keep your mind from going nuts! Though I do often do a guided meditation podcast before going to sleep and sometimes I fall asleep before it’s even over! Check out the free podcasts at http://www.themeditationpodcast.com.
Thank you so much!! I was having a mini panic attack and couldn’t regulate my heartbeat, then I simply said ” typical human “.. And my heart rate went down drastically! Small step, but HUGE help! Thank you!!!
Glad to be of help! That really works for me too.