Monster or Mosquito

Think of something you dread doing.

For some of us, it might be a household task, for others, it might be going to the doctor. For some, it is a work project they don't want to do. For some, it might be a tough conversation that needs to occur. Maybe it is running into an ex-partner. It might be moving to a new city or changing jobs. Maybe it is the process of aging.

These things are hard. And our brain likes to imagine that they are going to be so much more miserable than they actually are. Our amygdala at the base of our brain is always trying to keep us safe and get us ready for the worst-case scenario. However, this tool is one that can help us manage our exaggerating brains.

Bring back to mind the thing you picked as something you dread...now imagine it as a huge monster overtaking your life - this thing makes everything else horrible - it keeps you awake at night - it makes you put all joy on hold - it is huge and awful and ugly and intimidating. You cower in its presence. It is a monster of a task.

Now imagine that same thing as a mosquito - it buzzes around you, it is annoying, but you are so much bigger than that mosquito and you could smash it at any moment. We don't like its sting and it is very annoying, but we can handle it. We have the power to do something about it. We can remove it from our lives. We are much bigger than the mosquito.

In the monster image, we have no power - the thing has all the power.
In the mosquito image, we have the power - the thing is annoying, but we can deal with it.

That person you are afraid to run into - that moment of awkwardness feels like a monster, but make it a mosquito. It is annoying for a few seconds of time, and then it flies away and you go on with your life.

That work project you dread - it isn't really a monster after all - you can reduce it into small tasks, power them out, delegate where you need to, make it easy, get it finished, and wrap it up quickly.

That doctor's appointment you've been delaying - take it from monstrous to mosquito - it is annoying that we have to do these things, but you are advocating for your health so that you can be active and have fun with your favorite people. Make the appointment and take control - you can handle an annoying mosquito.

That tough conversation you are avoiding - what if it isn't a monster? What if you are both annoyed by this little thing buzzing around your relationship and once you talk about it, you will find common ground. Tell each other how you feel. You both want to smash the mosquito, so let's do it and not waste any more time.

If you are dreading the aging process - it can feel like an inevitable monster is lurking around every corner. What if the changes that come with age are just annoying little mosquitos and not really monsters? Life gets a lot more fun when we can see it that way.

But Ginger, what about all of the bad things happening in our world right now? Those really are monsters, aren't they?!?!

In the timeline of human existence, we are but a blip. We are on the timeline that arcs toward love, justice, and compassion for all...but we are a blip along that humanitarian journey. If we are a mist in the wind in a fleeting moment in time (you can see the Biblical books of James and Ecclesiastes for more on this), then let's have some fun and lighten our heavy burdens. Yes, there are monstrosities happening all around us. We each have to find what is ours to do to slay these big monsters, but maybe if we each do our own work of not stressing over the small stuff, then we can live more peaceful loving lives and create a ripple effect toward love and compassion for all.

Slay some of your personal monsters today and you will feel more energy in your body to help others slay theirs.

Take something today and make it a mosquito, still annoying and dreadful, but squashable too.

Happy monster-free summer with a few little mosquitos,
Ginger

P.S. This is a fun thing to explore with money too - does that amount you need/want to spend feel big and monstrous or could it actually be small? You get to decide what power you give an amount of money. It may seem like a lot or it may seem like a little. Play with it and see what you notice in your brain.

This kind of work, might not immediately change your reality, but it does change our perception of reality and that leads to transformative things in our lives! Experiment, explore, and stay curious and open to it all!