Thursday, October 6, 2022
What is one thing you can do when all you can think is “what if...”?
Barb Roose, author, speaker, and Bible teacher, shared a technique to use when you’re faced with overwhelming anxiety or worry. It's called the C.A.L.M. Technique:
- C. Count to 10 (Inhale on the number; Exhale the word MISSISSIPPI)
- A. Acknowledge God’s presence by saying: God, I know that You’re here with me right now.
- L. List – Tell God what you are afraid of or worried about
- M. Meditate – Keep repeating the following: God is here and He will take care of me/this.
You may need to do this in a meeting, in the grocery store, after reading a text, when you wake up in the morning, whenever the “what if...” of worry hits. The challenge? Actually doing it. Why not screen capture this post (and favorite it too in your photos) so that you can easily access the C.A.L.M. technique for when you need it? Or if you need it right now, know that God is right there with you and he is taking care of you.
Remember, these kind of techniques don’t just physically slow us down, they are part of renewing our mind through building our trust in the God who is with us.
Resource: https://barbroose.com/learn-my-c-a-l-m-technique-to-fight-worry/
If you have a teenager in your home, the following suggestions will be specifically helpful during the phase your teenager is currently in:
Let your teenager know you are always there to listen and help them problem solve, but resist the urge to fix the problem. Encourage your teenager to expect tough times, but remind them they have what it takes to endure them.
- Encourage your teenager to reframe setbacks as an opportunity to learn and grow.
This one may be hard for your teenager to grasp, but there’s a lot of truth in it. Some of the most difficult challenges—and the consequences that follow—end in tremendous growth.
- Inspire them to take risks.
Whether they’re academic risks or social risks, taking a chance inspires teenagers to explore what truly matters to them and what they’re made of.
- Create a culture at home where a little bit of struggle and risk- taking is valued.
Praise the effort over outcome.
Share times when you made a mistake or experienced a setback and what you learned. Help your teen find role models in your family, media, or your community who don't look like them or have the same life experience. Encourage them to learn about their life stories, the obstacles they encountered, and how they overcame them.