Occasionally, I have moments when I want to run away. I don’t want to pack everything up and go off the grid. When the urge to run comes up, I now realize it is a feeling I get when I want to avoid something or someone. In my head, I feel like running away will make the uncomfortable feeling go away. Avoidance shows up in a few ways. For example, some people say that they feel like they want to sleep through it. I know the feeling well.

Running away is about control

When the urge strikes to run away, it is usually about something I cannot control. Learning that I cannot control everything has been a big chunk of my personal development journey. Accepting “what is” takes conscious effort. I admit that I sometimes feel weak when I step into acceptance. I used to feel like I was giving up or giving in. It felt natural to challenge everything.

Acceptance does not equal weak

Acceptance does not mean that I am weak. It only means that when the urge to run away or avoid a situation comes up, I now understand that when I face a situation for what it is, I can move on faster. Looking back, I see where I wasted a lot of energy struggling to control situations I could have let go of.  A lot of my self-worth was wrapped up in my need for control. When you really think about it, fighting something that is out of your control is a waste of precious energy. Focusing my energy on things that move me toward my goals is more empowering than wasting energy on those that are out of my control.

Self-awareness and practice

It takes self-awareness to identify the moments when I want to run away. When that feeling hits me, I take a deep breath and allow myself to feel what is coming up for me and why. If the situation is out of my control, I let it go. It’s not like it magically disappears. I have learned to think about things in my life that make me happy or people that bring me joy. I remind myself that running toward something I want is a much better choice than running away from something I don’t want. Trust me; this takes practice. Lots and lots of practice, and I get to practice it a lot!

Your turn

It’s your turn – I’m always interested in how others handle stressful, or shall I say, challenging situations. What tips are you willing to share in the comments below?