The Master Plan

Bouncing Back from Disappointments Part 2

by Anne Marie Schlekeway – September 1, 2010
Two weeks ago we saw that awareness is the key to keeping your head straight amidst a series of disappointments. This week we’ll look at simple practices that will minimize the negative impact of events.
  1. Create a short term plan – one month or so that inspires you. Keep it simple and doable.
  2. Set your supplements out on the counter where you are more likely to take them, or set them up for the next day before bed…make it easy to take care of yourself.
  3. Take control of the flow of information you allow in your mental space. Check emails at certain, specific times. Be uninterruptable. Limit television and news.  Time yourself on Facebook…don’t allow yourself to get lost.  Use a kitchen timer.
  4. Rally the troops! Have scheduled conversations with the nurturing, supportive people in your life. Keep those appointments. Nurture the ones that make you feel supported and cared for, while powerfully managing neccessary relationships that don’t always support you – minimize your time with these people.
  5. Focus on what is working.  Plan inspiring events, vacations, day trips in the future to support your mind set. Set yourself up to be inspired.
  6. Volunteer for an afternoon – step out of your own life and into caring for others.  Your concerns will still be there when you are done. Do this at least once a month.
  7. Manage your rest.  Sleep.  Nap.  Trying to bounce back from a failure or a disappointment or a bad break without enough rest is stupid.
  8. Keep inspiring texts at hand: I am currently reading The Purpose Driven Life by Wallace Wattles; The Bounce Back Book by Karen Salmansohn is delightful and I just picked up The JOY Diet by Martha Beck.
  9. Journal. For over 15 years, I have done what’s called the ‘Morning Pages’ from The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron. Each morning I sit for 15 minutes and write whatever comes to mind without judgment or assessment. Put words on a page…from time to time this practice yields something useful…like this list!
Awareness may be the key, but practices are the lock. The lock on sustaining a clear, focused, positive mental space. Any time I catch myself slipping, I can guarantee you that I have let my practices go out of existence or have slacked in my discipline. It takes something to keep your head out of the miasma of fear and uncertainty that seems to coat the world today, especially when one is dealing with a chronic illness. But just because something takes work does not mean it’s not worth the effort!

About the Author: Anne Marie Schlekeway

In loving memory of Anne Marie Schlekeway, the Cheekiest Chick we've ever known, who recently lost her admirably courageous battle with the very disease she fought so hard against, ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease). In her honor, please support a charity that Anne Marie was extremely passionate about: Augie's Quest. Augie's Quest, an ALS research initiative, is an aggressive, cure-driven effort focused on finding treatments and cures for ALS. Anne Marie, thank you for your words of wisdom - it has been a privilege and an honor to publish them. You have affected everyone who has ever had the privilege of reading them. Thank you from the bottom of our heart. We are raising a glass of pink bubbles to you. August 12, 1966 - December 9, 2010

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Who is the Cheeky chick?

She is fun, fabulous and fierce. She is chic, intelligent and in-the-know. But most of all, the Cheeky chick is the kind of woman who embraces, admires, respects, smiles at and opens her heart to other fabulous chicks. Now THAT'S Cheeky, darling!