PRESSING THE TAPES’ [OFF] BUTTON TO KEEP ME IN THE ‘HERE AND NOW’

[MrZee]

Greetings all,

Including Yours Truly there are many of us that are plagued by the past and worry about the future.

When I’m out and about, especially in movement (driving, walking, etc.) my OCD mind starts running a mile a minute and replays scenarios of the “Tapes” from the past when I was abused by my parents or bullied when I was a teenager. Or, I’m worried about my future. It drives me nuts. Feels kind of like a hamster running on a wheel in my head at 100mph.

Anyway, yesterday I’m driving while listening to a soothing CD and it’s a beautiful sunny day. Then the Tape starts up in my head when my father was beating me up half a century ago. Like WTF? Why am I letting my psycho (and he really was) father screw up my listening to beautifully soothing music?

Sooooo.... I thought to myself ‘Where am I now? I’m driving on a beautiful day listening to a beautiful CD and that’s where I want to be.’ Then I pressed the mental [OFF] button and my father went away. With that I smiled and continued to enjoy the soothing music.

Moral of my share: We all have the right to enjoy the Here and Now and are free to choose to turn off the sh!t from the past or worries about the future. Easier said than done. But I find the key to enjoying life is in the moment. And I’m a mentally vigilant person... I will not let anyone from my negative past or worrisome future rob me of enjoying what I’m currently positively experiencing.

The [OFF] button is my Guardian Angel.

All my best,

MZ ❤️

[Starrlight]

❤️

[pink83737]

Thank you for sharing! 🌸

[MrZee in reply to pink83737]

A pleasure always. It’s one thing I can do to help others here ❤️

[Tbine]

Hello MrZee,. As i read your post i can't help but to think of myself (my dad was a psycho too) . This "aquired skill" of being able to play out these films and actually " replay" the most unwanted scenes took me years to learn how not to get drawn into them and carried away sort of speak. Especially when someone has social phobia like i did, this kind of "daydreaming about possible catastrophes" is crippling, and requires a constant vigilance of your thoughts. I understand we all have do this daydreaming to some extent, but with phobias, these miniature movies are made up and one tends to believe their the God's honest truth,. Kind of like your being forewarned of all kinds of negative possibilities, the catch is once you give into these scenarios, it becomes harder and harder the next time you must venture out. Sorry so long MrZee but because of what you've been through in your past, i feel like you can relate and appreciate a good war story. Lol. Anyways, your absolutely right when you say that we control the shut off . And those are words to remember. Good Day to You MrZee, and great post, keep them coming because they are more important to many people who read them.

[MrZee in reply to Tbine]

Thank you Tbine for the wonderful compliment. I have a heart that likes to help others and likes to be nurtured by myself and others too.

All my best,

MZ ❤️