Four little phrases: May I be safe. May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I live with ease. (Repeat)

These four little phrases brings calm from the panic, breathing from hyperventilating, and happiness from the madness.

I was very lucky to have a fantastic psychologist that knew so much about cognitive therapy. This was the first book she recommended that I read.

A long time ago a friend of mine gave me the book Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff by Richard Carlson. And even though it told me not to sweat the small stuff, my mind was filled with anxiety about all the small stuff. I had a virtual cornucopia of small stuff. Words ran around in my head constantly about the small stuff. I dreaded the thought of a crisis happening. And so I would plan on what I would do if the crisis happened.

And when a large problem did happen I had no room in my brain to process it all. I would often get past the crisis, but I would definitely go into a deep depression after. I would be back to the little girl curled up in my bed with Kleenex and crying it all out.

As I lay there no clichés or words of positive thinking could help. My head was full of all the questions. Why did I do that? What other words could I have used? Will they still like me? What if I would’ve done it this way? What if I lose everything? What if nobody loves me?

These four little phrases have given me the ability to calmly and rationally have time to think. It gives me time to have clarity. It gives me the time to remember that I am a pretty smart intelligent and independent woman.

So if all the crew are deciding that they’re all going to go for the self-improvement goals for the new year, you only need one goal. No it’s not lose a whole bunch of weight. It’s not exercising more. It’s just learning to love yourself. To have some care and compassion for the human that you are. Because if you learn to love yourself you learn to care about yourself. And everything else just falls into place.

May I be safe. May I be happy. May I be healthy. May I live with ease.

Have the best year ever!!

Happy New Year 2023