Reminders

I often have clients who are dealing with anxiety, and they find that when they leave comfortable places, they may have increased social anxiety. That certainly makes sense, as predictability helps to lower anxiety. To the extent that we can exert control in situations, we have lower anxiety.

I recently had a client who told me about her “safe place” in her home, a large closet. She can go in there for periods of time, pray, meditate, and feel safe. It is enclosed, but she does not have claustrophobia, so the enclosed place actually gives her comfort.

We talked about the comfort she has there, and the idea is to “bring as much of the closet as she can” in to her normal work environment. She likes the idea, and she will think about the ideas we discussed. She may actually wear a piece of clothing or jewelry that she wears in the closet when she goes out.

We need reminders of who we are when we go into places that may bring some perceived risk. Having a familiar piece of clothing, a ring, a wrist band, whatever, can be of some small comfort to us as we make ourselves aware of those items.

So, that proverbial “rabbit’s foot” is not a magic charm, but we can find value in items when we can ascribe our own value to it as a familiar token of comfort.

Prayer: In this season of peace, help us find some comfort, even in uncomfortable places, Amen