The Processes

Introduction

I have some Processes that I use to rid myself of my anxieties and get myself back on the track of a productive, happy life. In the following sections, I will present these Processes in their most basic form.  I will also present examples of the Processes in action.

These Processes have been very helpful to me, and they are also key to my recovery. They’re helping me to delete old, destructive patterns of thinking and useful for building in new behaviors that work better for me.

Process One

This first Process was developed with the help of my therapist.  I use this Process when I am caught up in the judgment of another person, or when I’m in the middle of the codependent crazies.  It helps get me out of reaction and into the Observer.  Getting out of reaction and into the Observer is my first step towards feeling better.   Being in the Reactor solves nothing.

1.  I consciously breathe in and out slowly.  Breathing with awareness brings me back to the present moment.  It gives me an automatic time-out.

2.  I become aware of what I am doing.

3.  I ask myself, What’s going on in my body, feelings, and brain? Asking this gets me into the Observer. This awareness allows me to observe my behavior. Then I can figure out why .

4. If possible, I write down the information . 

5. I pray for the willingness to accept the situation and information as it is.  

6. I pray for acceptance of the situation.

7. I admit powerlessness over said problem.

8. Then I become willing to feel my feelings.

9. I pray for God to help me with the pain I feel inside.

10.  Where can I put my mind that is not on this?  I go do something else.

11.  I have to remember that God doesn’t make junk.  I am a beloved child of God just the way I am.  I don’t have to do anything to be okay.  I am okay just because I’m me.  I must never forget that.  I am a worthwhile person just because I exist.

12.  From now on, I will do (define solution).  I will pray and give it to God too.  He will help.

13.  Even if I (e.g. make the same mistake again), I am still okay.  I’m still a good person.  I am a beloved child of God.  I can always talk to God about it.  He’ll help me.

14.  I laugh at myself and the situation. This will not matter in 50 years. 

After I go through Process One, I proceed to Process Two.

Process Two – Make a Plan

1.  I recheck my anxiety level.  How am I feeling?

2.  I breathe big.

3.  What is the information?

4.  What are my choices?

5.  I hold the outcome in the Light of God, give thanks, and visualize what I want.

6.  I take action – make a plan.

7.  I affirm my choice, and accept it. 

8.  I let it go.

9.  I ask myself, Where could I put my mind that’s not on this? 

10.  I thank God.
11. I give it to God and don’t take it back.

12.  I go do something else.

When I’m in a hurry and don’t have time to use the above processes, I use the Quick Fix Process below.

Process Three – Quick Fix for Getting Out of Obsession of a Crisis

1.  I give it to God.

2.  I thank God for handling it and taking it off my plate.

3.  I make God my real friend, like Jesus is right next to me, helping me.

4.  Every time I obsess about it, I thank God for handling it and taking it off my plate.

5.  I believe that because I asked, my request will be answered.

Juliet’s Mantras and Additional Practices

When a situation is stressing me out, I also read my Mantras, and I do additional Practices. They help. (These are included in a later section.)

The additional Practices include:

• Praying.  I give it to God.  I say, God, please help me.

• Journaling.  I get it all out on paper.  Then I burn it.

• Getting the anger out. I pound and yell or pound and grunt using a punching bag for 10 minutes.

• Silent Worship.  I pray silently to God and listen for His guidance for at least 20 minutes. Silent Worship is described in By the Way, You’re Going to Hell, as well as in Worship and Prayer Time.

• Exercising away the stress. I do 30-40 minutes of cardio exercise.

• Saying my list of positive affirmations. I may include the ones in this book or some from Louise L. Hay’s Power Thoughts Cards.

• Going for gratitude. I go through my gratitude list. Add more to it. What am I grateful for?

At some point, I will go back to my Processes:

• Again, I ask, where could I put my mind that’s not on this?  I get back to the present moment.

• I once more consider what the information is. I review my plan.  I give the problem up to God. I let it go.  I go back to the present. 

• I give it to God again.

• I thank God for the assistance and whatever lesson the situation is offering.