Wrapped Around The Axle

Have you ever been caught up in a moment when something out of your control shifts your mood entirely? This particular thing parked itself in my subconscious like a parasite aimed at taking my light mood and turning it negative. It created a loop in my thinking. It was difficult to redirect my mind. After stewing on it a bit, other unrelated things that had recently generated some frustration were starting to creep into that same loop. Maybe the things that irritate you need a place to gather with buddies to commiserate.

While none of these things were life-critical, it was a really funky energy.

The good news is that no matter my mood, my curiosity usually stays somewhat engaged. I wanted to understand the root of this negativity. How can one negative moment lead to a mood powered by multiple negative moments? It probably relates to the default modes that I’ve written about in previous posts. There are biological responses to stimuli that are fueled by ego and our desire to fit in with groups. Everybody deals with them, but the secret is to know when they are at work. In my case, both defaults were actively engaged.

Finding space is a great way to decouple from a whirlwind of negative energy. This is both a physical and mental construct. Stepping away from the physical space where you were stewing can really help. My son asked me to play lacrosse in our side yard. Whenever one of my kids asks to play something together, I do my best to say yes. Even though my mood at that moment wanted to keep stewing, I said yes. 

Walking outside, I felt the cool evening air almost suggest a subtle shift in my mindset. Almost like a threshold I was crossing between frustration and calm. My son had already pulled the sticks and balls from the garage and was out there throwing and catching. We immediately started playing and talking. I was fully immersed in the basic acts of throwing, catching and shooting. Nothing else mattered. The world went away, and it was just us. It was the reminder I needed to release a few things that were both out of my control and in the past. 

Life is too amazing and precious to give up too much time wrapped around the axle. 

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