Having a Moment of Clarity? Seize It!
Carpe that diem when your brain is up for it!
I started last week on a low note with my sickly dog and some looming dread about the election. Recognizing that there was enough of a negative chaos in my life to affect my mental health.
The pup has been responding positively to the treatment. The election, has turned into the daily mental health struggle that it was 4–8 years ago. It only occurred to me this weekend that it was in the time of Trump that I dug into my anxiety issues and learned to use meditation to my benefit.
So, if we’re lucky, I only have to deal with this for another 4 years. But I’m not here to talk politics, at least not exactly.
Mindfulness for your Mental Health
This past weekend, I was helping my wife man her booth at the “Vibe” artisan’s market in Denver, so staying busy but also having moments of distraction. It was inside that busy time that I recognized my old patterns of getting ‘wrapped around the axle.’
It also helped me realize one of my core principles is to “be understood.”
I’ve seen it suggested that this need to over-share and over-explain can be an ADHD trait, especially when coupled with Rejection Sensitive Dysphoria (RSD). While I’m trying to not attach everything I do to ADHD, I do also want people to know that it can be an issue.
In any case, in my election angst, I’ve ended up in several conversations online that had me talking about topics and explaining my position or my answers. I was called a Mansplainer by one person, and another suggested that my Liberal Colors were showing.
Those conversations and my looming response lingered in my mind, consuming considerable mental energy. I remembered, I have to learn to ‘let some things go’ in that last presidency.
I also recognized that I should endeavor to not put myself in the position to have these conversations in the future.
So, my advice to you, as taken by myself. Choose the ‘content’ that you see, recognize your need to see it, or the effect it has on you.
Me? I’ve unfollowed people with a political bent. I’ve unsubscribed from sub-reddits that will get me riled up.
I will stand up for those that need it in the coming years, but I’m not going to put myself on the front line of that. I still need to consider my health, my future and my ability to be ABLE to help those that need it.
Finding a Name and Understanding the Audience
I’m sure I’ll regularly be talking about
and our interactions regularly in these Monday threads, simply because our weekly chats end up being so packed with insight. Last week was no different.Last Friday I did my trial run of a Co-Working session (more on that later) and chatted with Brad before and after that. We also did just a hangout on Thursday brainstorming. (If you need some extra brain cells in your life helping you figure out your next steps, I strongly recommend reaching out to Brad.)
On Thursday, we pivoted on the name of my community. Recognizing that “Channeling Chaos” was created to describe what I do, but it’s a horrible name to represent a group of people that are all doing it. Brad helped me think through understanding the audience as well. That community is now named “Chaos Channelers.”
I wrote a post (with Brad & ChatGPT’s help) in that Newsletter that details WHO I hope to be working with as this community grows. You can read that intro post here.
I’ll still write my topics about channeling chaos in our lives in this newsletter, but focus on the community there. I’ll also be doing 2-3 sessions a week that are focused on working next to someone to keep us focused. You might call them Deep Work sessions, or Co-Working or Body Doubling. You can learn more about that there.
The greatest value I had from those sessions was getting a better mental picture of which of YOU or others out there, might be ‘my tribe.’ It helped me feel less self-conscious about saying “ADHD” all the time, since some of you don’t have it, or don’t like to use it.
Anyway, big strides in audience definition and that’s helped a lot.
Mental Space, Gratitude, and Moving Forward
In the near future, I will be focusing a lot on building a mental ‘safe space’ for myself and others. I’ll also be defining what tools I and others might benefit from in an effort to be our authentic selves while also ‘getting shit done.’
Today, my dog is adding stress by not eating his breakfast and returning to some undesired behavior. Tomorrow we get a follow-up with the cardiologist. It’d be great if he could be a source of joy, not stress… we’ll work on that.
My gratitude this past week is muddied by fear. I don’t feel like the social support network that I get now (Medicaid, ACA) is long for this world… so, the need to generate revenue while also having health care is looming large.
I’m grateful for Medicaid while I have it. I’m grateful that I’ve had as long as I have to explore what I’m doing. Mostly, I’m grateful for the clarity that’s come this past week.
I’m wanting to get back into my 2 post cadence now that things are a bit more clear. I should be back on Thursday (coincidentally the next Co-working session) to go through my “ChaOS Operating System”, possibly with something actionable if anyone is interested.
Until then, Namaste!
Jody, you nailed it! Your journey of grappling with chaos and channeling it into purpose is relatable and inspiring. Here’s to more ‘content choices’ that fuel growth, not anxiety, and to spaces (both online and in our heads) where we can all ‘let some things go’ without guilt. It’s a rare thing to find clarity in this mad world — when it arrives, we’ve got to seize it with both hands. I’ll be cheering for you, the pup, and Chaos Channelers from the sidelines. Namaste, my friend!