{"id":403,"date":"2011-05-25T09:40:19","date_gmt":"2011-05-25T13:40:19","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.beliefnet.com\/myhappyplace\/?p=403"},"modified":"2011-05-25T09:40:19","modified_gmt":"2011-05-25T13:40:19","slug":"breaking-my-rule","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/myhappyplace\/2011\/05\/breaking-my-rule.html","title":{"rendered":"Breaking My Rule"},"content":{"rendered":"

I broke my own rule yesterday.<\/p>\n

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"Lions, Tornadoes and Bears! OH MY!"<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

If you’ve read my blog “How to Be Happy,” you know that I am very careful about what I allow in my brain. I have a standing rule for myself not to watch the news. The gift I can give this world is to shine, and I can’t do that if I’m worried and anxious over what is happening in Japan or Joplin. During the Japan tragedy, I read just enough headlines to be informed, and then I purposely sent prayers, love, and light their direction instead of falling into my personal\u00a0 pit of despair. I’m useless in that pit.\u00a0 Sunday night, however, when Joplin, Missouri–our neighbor–was picked up and thrown about by a monster tornado, I immersed myself in the news. I watched video and studied photos. I broke my own rule.<\/p>\n

That was a bad choice.<\/p>\n

Yesterday morning I woke to day-long tornado warnings for Oklahoma, and, instead of being able to think clearly and rationally–make my plan and follow through–I became paralyzed with fear. I couldn’t think. I was useless in my pit of worry, fear and anxiety. That pit isn’t a good place for a mother who needs to be smart and responsible. Fortunately, the tornadoes were not scheduled to hit our area until evening–after my husband came home from work.<\/p>\n

When my husband arrived, I said, “I made a mistake. I watched the news yesterday. I can’t trust my instincts. I know you were careful to not watch yesterday’s news so I am going to trust your intuition instead of mine.”\u00a0 I’m not the kind of person who easily does this kind of thing :). I like to make my own choices.\u00a0 The man was amazing. He gave me a hug. He got out the emergency supplies. He made a plan. He watched the weather. He had a clear mind and an in-tune heart.<\/p>\n

And I relaxed.<\/p>\n

This experience has lead me to add a point to my “How to Be Happy” instructions:<\/p>\n