Do Nothing

A crisis grounding skill

It doesn't happen that often anymore, but when I feel really, really bad... Sometimes I want to act on urges that part of me knows I will later regret. In fact, in that space, I'm pretty sure I'll end up regretting *anything* I say or do.

The only tool I've ever found particularly effective for this kind of crisis is something I call "Do Nothing" and it is exactly that.

You don't have to do anything. In fact, you can't. It's that simple (and not simple at all.) Yet if I don't talk I won't explode in anger. If I don't move, I can't be destructive. I can't make it worse.

For me, at least, the most intense urges pass. If I can be patient. If I don't make it spiral.

So I do nothing. The concentration is grounding. It takes focus to be still. I am physically paused until I trust myself.

Try Doing Nothing next time you want to do something... You don't *really* want to do.

(yes, my son elbowed me in the eye)