I love my therapist Kathleen. She just gets it. She used to work for Child Protective Services. She has seen the damage that people can do to each other. I know she’s also seen the strength of the human spirit and what love can heal. I haven’t been quiet about how I’m struggling right now. I don’t do that anymore. Minimize and dismiss my own feelings. Well, in theory I don’t. This is why I have a therapist, to help me gather tools. Kathleen does have lots of tips, and some resonate, others don’t. This one she shared did. Even though the phrase turned me off at first, this is rooted in neuroscience, and that my friends is powerful shit.
There is a part of your brain called the Reticular Activating System (RAS), and it sorts every bit of the 11 million pieces of data your brain processes in a moment Yeah, you read that right. You can only retain about 26 things. It turns out, what you tell your brain when you first wake up matters because your RAS starts working as soon as you wake up. If you voice some affirmative statements like, “I’m the luckiest girl in the world” or “I’m peaceful” or whatever works for you, your brain will start noticing all of the things that make you lucky or peaceful or whatever affirmation resonates. I am still working on mine, but using the lucky one right now. Because I truly am in every way. You know how if you are thinking of buying a red car (just an example), and then you see red cars everywhere? This is your RAS working.
This isn’t some toxic positivity or manifestation. These affirmative statements activate your RAS and help you see things differently. Kind of like glimmers, huh? I will report back.
Glimmers
I wrote a little this week without it being so painful I’d rather die. Yes, I am being dramatic, but sweet peaches it is hard. I completely missed peach season and I am sad about that. Next year!
Above is my office’s little gallery wall. It calms my soul. I love making things beautiful.
I actually took care of some things on my to-do list that were previously too physically difficult to do. It took time and lots of breaks and I feel like I lifted weights at the gym, but I feel a sense of accomplishment I haven’t felt in awhile. Grief leaves a lot of clean up.
I have started meditating again. I am still wobbly with it, but at least I started up again.
This week, I got chosen by a local photographer for a local project. He gave me a 35mm camera filled with Superia 400 film, and I am to shoot photos of the greater San Jose Area. One of the photos I take will be part of a photography show next year. I am excited because it is shaking loose my creativity, a little nudge if you will.
We live in a downtown with a crosswalk near us, so I can often hear conversations and music from cars or pedestrians waiting to cross the street. I love it. A car full of people just stopped, scream singing “Baby Got Back” from the windows. Truly the waning ghosts of summer’s reprise coming through my screen.
Love this, Nicole! I think mine should be "I get shit done and won't be detered in defending my children's rights". A bit long, I know, but it's what is important at the moment. Sending you love ❤️
Nicole! After the Sustenance HH the other night, I went perusing through everyone's Substacks and I must say, THANK YOU for this piece. The part about the Reticular Activating System has stuck with me all week. I've been repeating "the next right thing is coming soon," and while I don't know what that "thing" is yet, nor when "soon" quite is, it has brought me a greater sense of trust and faith in the universe's plan. ❤️