Dramatizing

In the last days I’ve noticed a growing uneasiness. All was fine yet a some sort of weird expectations was lurking around. As if something was about to happen. Something that will kick the life balance in the butt. The funny thing though is that nothing of such kind was or is on the horizon. So, why this expectation?

As I was investigating this particular experience, I remembered (again) “The war of art” by Steven Pressfield. He did mention there that on of the Resistance mechanisms is self-dramatization. This urge to create a soap opera out of our lives. Was I expecting some of this drama action coming my way?

Self-drama is a perfect way to keep us busy. It lives off of fear. It strives on emotion. It consumes the entire capacity of the mind. And it is like cancer — it feeds of itself. Once you get into the self-drama circle it holds you there with a tight fist. It wants you to stay in it forever. So, that you have no more time or energy to do anything else.

Actually, sometimes the urge to self-dramatize might be so strong that a problem is created out of thin air. Suddenly you remember this harm that bestowed you all those years ago. Or you react to an unimportant event with a force of a tornado. Or you dig up something that is a small bother and blow it out of proportion. Self-dramatizing has a vast arsenal of weapons to throw at us.

The funny thing is that it is rather easy to spot when such an attack is about to happen once you build sensitivity towards it. Everything is fine, yet a feeling of unease lurks in the air. An expectation for something bad to happen. It is our amygdala waking up and wanting to be entertained. To take control once more.

Once you notice it, you have all the power to let it go. To lull your lizard brain back into a coma. You just need to get going with the work that matters. Let it occupy your mind to the extent that the fear and prime emotion has no space left. And the only thing they can do is to go back into a corner and wait for another moment of uneasiness to have their another chance to attack.