FLOAT
Sometimes it’s as bad as you think.
Sometimes, it’s not.
My family loves to float down the river on inner tubes in the summer when the days are sticky and hot.
Usually floating down the North Carolina river is peaceful and relaxing, but several years ago, the summer was dry and the rivers were low.
Without a strong current, we were pulling ourselves along the river bottom by our feet, like Flintstones, making our relaxing float feel more like a long drag through a sand bed.
Same river, different date.
At times we were walking in ankle deep water holding inner tubes around our waists, but we made fun of the frustration and “floated” on.
We stopped frequently to let the kids play and watched as they skipped stones, slid down large rocks, and jumped in from the riverbank.
After a while, we would to change locations to explore a new part of the river.
Even though my kids were experienced swimmers, had taken years of swimming lessons, and were wearing life vests, we always connected our tubes with ropes so the kids were consistently within an arms reach of an adult.
You can’t be too careful, right?
So, off we went!
Our bundle of tubes came to a turn in the river. The water deepened, picked up pace slightly, and for a quick moment, we were floating!
Finally!
And then the little one slipped through the donut hole in his inner tube.
Down he went.
Flailing, splashing, and immediate cries of panic rang out!
“Help! Help!” he gargled.
Fear and chaos collided, and in an instant, all was not well.
The scene was troubling, for sure, except for the most obvious part.
He was wearing his life vest in knee deep water.
With a chuckle, his dad encouraged him.
“Stand up!”
“Just stand up!”
He wasn’t drowning at all, and as soon as he caught up to this fact, he roared with laughter and relief.
Drenched with water, this little boy laughed so hard he cried, and then he laughed all over again.
He went from loss of control to joyful elation in one single moment because of a faulty thought.
One terrible, faulty thought.
What if we think we’re worse off than we are?
How many people feel like they’re drowning when they’re not?
Is joyful elation what we would feel if we knew we are alright, too?
Stand up, my friend.
It’s not as deep it feels.
It’s not as scary as it seems.
Just stand up.
Sometimes it’s as bad as you think.
Sometimes, it’s not.
Breakthrough FAULTY Thinking!
If you’d like to explore your own faulty thoughts or belief systems, and how they might be altering your life, explore my Breakthrough Sessions.
