Posted by Mark H. on March 4, 2005, at 21:24:31
In reply to Re: Dread and procrastination » Mark H., posted by TamaraJ on March 4, 2005, at 20:34:36
Dear Tamara,
I think you asked a very intelligent question. In my experience, the sense of dread becomes manageable through a combination of good medications and the willingness to make yourself do things that you frankly don't want to do. The latter requires prioritizing, in my opinion, or else we just exhaust ourselves with trying to be what we're not.
The prioritizing part is asking yourself how important it is for you to participate in a certain activity, whether it's attending a friend's wedding (high) or cleaning your garage (low). For me the dread eases with experience. For instance, if I know that having dinner with dear friends who share my values will be a mutually nurturing and refreshing experience, then it's fairly easy to set aside my dread about having to socialize. On the other hand, if it's an office party, I probably just won't go, and I have to make a conscious decision that that's OK and be comfortable with it.
Mostly, I think it's important to be gentle with yourself, to "manage" yourself with as much compassion and care as you would naturally extend to anyone else who was suffering as you are.
With kind regards,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:466556
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20050224/msgs/466714.html