One Day at a Time – Day 5

September 15, 2017


Let go of the fear. Feel it, then breathe it out. Let go of the frustration, the overwhelmed feelings, the panic. Quiet yourself. Then pick one task, one simple thing to do. Then focus on only that. Or go to your calendar and circle today. Today is the only day you’ve got, and today is enough.

Action: If you’re working on a project, break it down into components, and work on one small part. Don’t think about the rest. If what’s overwhelming you is a flurry of tasks and problems, make a list, then pick one thing and focus on doing that. Then cross it off your list and do another. If you’re going through a tough stretch in your life, don’t think about all the days that loom ahead. Make whatever appointments and plans you need to make, then focus only on today.

If you’re experiencing something tough, like a divorce or early sobriety, you may want to break your days into smaller parts, such as hours, mornings, afternoons, and evenings. Don’t think about facing anything more than that chunk of time. Then when you get to the next chunk, focus on that. If the beast of anxiety starts roaring, quiet it by deliberately turning your attention to small steps.

From the book: 52 Weeks of Conscious Contact

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About the author

In addiction and recovery circles, Melody Beattie is a household name. She is the best-selling author of numerous books.

One of Melody's more recent titles is The Grief Club, which was published in 2006. This inspirational book gives the reader an inside look at the miraculous phenomenon that occurs after loss--the being welcomed into a new "club" of sorts, a circle of people who have lived through similar grief and pain, whether it be the loss of a child, a spouse, a career, or even one's youth.

For more information about Melody and her books, visit the author's official website