Last week I had to do something really unpleasant (it had to do with taxes).
Even though I knew the worst-case-scenario was not actually all that bad, I still couldn't get over the really overwhelming sense of doomdoomdoom.
And it was manifesting in a crazy case of shaky hands and shaky voice.
I did not want to do this thing with my Minnie Mouse voice. I did not want to burst into tears.
This thing totally did not deserve tears (really, it wasn't that big a deal).
I wanted to feel calm and centered and relaxed.
So I sat in the car, outside the office with my journal and asked (and answered) some questions. Sort of like Havi's stone-skipping questions, but quick and shallow.
These questions could be applied to anything unpleasant and maybe make it slightly more fun.
Can I learn something more about what to expect, so I feel better prepared?
Can I make this any quicker?
Can I make this more fun?
Can I make this more silly?
What can I notice, right now?
My answers, for this specific unpleasantness:
Can I learn more?
Yes, I had all my paperwork ready and knew what to expect…but I still felt shaky.
Can I make this quicker?
Actually, no. I have to wait until they call my name
Can I make this more fun?
Grumpy Tara says…no.
Can I make this silly?
Only in my imagination.
What if my sparkly shoes were blindingly sparkly? What if they lit up the whole room?
What if my favorite Polymath Designs earrings were actually deflector shiels? None shall pass!
What if my handknit shawl was really an inivisiblity cloak? And the people who are stressing me out can't see my shakiness through it's stunning beauty?
My suddenly-magical outfit.
What can I notice?
The cherry blossoms out the window. I'll take a picture of them when I'm done.