Tis the Season
Here we are, another year has gone by, another season of ‘the most wonderful time of the year’ is upon us. Let me ask this question - do you feel joyful?
Sometimes, a lot of the times, I don’t feel joyful, I don’t feel like celebrating, I don’t feel like much… It is precisely in these moments I think that someone should come along side and give me a ‘Shakabuku’
I know there are some of you who know what that means, but for those who don’t, here it is -
The movie Grosse Pointe Blank (1997) with John Cusack, Minnie Driver, Dan Aykroyd, Joan Cusack, and many others has this quotable quote -
Debi (Minnie): You know what you need?
Marty (John Cusack): What?
Debi: Shakabuku.
Marty: You wanna tell me what that means?
Debi: It’s a swift, spiritual kick to the head that alters your reality forever.
Marty: Oh, that’d be good. I think.
It is precisely in the moments when I, don’t feel like being joyful, or entering into joy, or experiencing happiness - that I could use a Shakabuku myself. How about you?
Don’t get me wrong, there are times where it is alright to be sad, or not truly be able to enter into a happy state of being. In fact, trying to be “more positive” or just not being depressed sometimes just doesn’t work, does it? NOPE.
Let’s consider, however, this statement from the apostle Paul, “Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of a good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy - meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you” (Philippians 4:8-9, NKJV).
It appears that the things we meditate on, dwell on, or spend our time within - are things that can impact us - good or bad.
If we are constantly dwelling and meditating on things that are not joyful, not praiseworthy, or are merely difficult or depressing things, we may be caught up in those things within our minds. It absolutely impacts us, and there are times where my mind is on a track of depression and post trauma positioning… I need a reset, I need a Shakabuku, I need an intervention, I need an Interceder into those areas of my mind and my life so that I may truly enter into and experience joy!
Even when or if I don’t feel like it. Even when or if you don’t feel like it. But let’s be honest with ourselves, there is not a one of us who has been in a dark place of our soul or mind that actually wanted to stay there, we all have wanted to get out of that space and into a better atmosphere where we felt safe, and where the trauma and those dark scars of the soul will just go away… That is what we have wanted isn’t it? No more trauma exposures, no more intrusive thoughts… Am I right?
Tis the Season for joy, for hope, for change, for renewal and restoration. Do you believe this? What will it take to help move from the dark pain and into the joy of life for you?
Trauma is informative, it is also transformative, and if we allow it to constantly drag us through the past, we will not find hope or experience the joy that we want to experience. I know it sounds difficult, I battle daily with my joy-meter, and being able to experience joy, but it is possible, it is available! It is renewable daily!
Listen to these words, “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2, NKJV).
There is joy unspeakable, inexpressible, and available now to you, through the hope of Jesus in you.
He went to the cross of crucifixion for you, so that you would not have to experience it yourself, and Jesus did it for the joy set before Him. He did it with you in mind. He knew that in this world you would have trouble (see John 16:33), He also overcame the troubles and sin and shame of it all so you would have joy in Him no matter what you have gone through, or what you will go through.
I know that things in this world, the trauma, the stress and anxieties, and all the doom-type-of stuff on the internet may be causing trauma, and intrusive thoughts, but you can give those thoughts to the Lord, the living God, asking Him to take the traumatic memories. You can also choose to move into the hope of a restored mind as you look to Jesus and not the trauma, the internet, or the world for your help and hope.
I choose to do that, although there are daily battles of my mind to enter in and remain within the hope and truth offered by the grace of Jesus - but He has never failed me. He never will. He will never fail you either.
Let me offer some guidance also, at this time to help with intrusive thoughts, and perhaps this will give further insight into other forms of traumatic invasions (night terrors, nightmares, hypervigilance, etc.…)
Intrusive thoughts, occur spontaneously, and may contain highly emotional and spiritually charged content, which is painful, and often causes a person to feel unsafe in that moment, as if trauma is happening for the first time. The person experiencing certain intrusive thoughts may have considerations to act or react to the intrusive nature, yet they may not act upon the thoughts, however the thoughts themselves may instill fears, anxieties, and other distressing emotions which may interrupt daily functioning.
What can you do? If you feel unsafe, please reach out to someone for help, reach out to a friend, a counselor, someone whom you trust, and know that you are not alone. Don’t go through this alone, don’t “tough it out” - reach out.
Here are some other things that may be helpful to manage your thoughts a little bit.
Remind yourself that thoughts are simply just thoughts, and there is no need to fear them or act on them. These intrusive thoughts are based, for the most part, and as contained in the discussions of trauma - on past events. They are in the past - remind yourself of this often and know that you are safe now in the present.
Acknowledge the thoughts for what they are.
Allow the thoughts to pass and remind yourself that you are safe in the moment (remind yourself of this often).
Consider questioning whether it is a helpful or unhelpful thought rather than living in the distressing details.
Can the thought help you to cognitively process through in a wise-mind arena, or are you allowing the thought to emotionally distract and disconnect you?
Engage your mind in a positive direction such as walking, art, music, or other healthy mechanisms.
Acknowledge the emotions. This may help to understand them. Ask if the emotions are helpful to you. Does this emotion help me to move in a healthy direction? Is this emotion based upon what is happening now, or something that happened before that I cannot change?
Acknowledge how the thought makes you feel.
Meditate or dwell on good things, even when the intrusive nature enters.
Write down your intrusive thoughts. Don’t use a computer or a media-based platform for this, actually write things in a journal. This has a way of engaging your brain on a different level and can in itself be a healing way to move through the emotions. It also helps to look back at these journal writings to see what has helped in the past.
These are some suggestions, try some, maybe it will help. I know that there is not a one-size fits all platform, unless we are talking about Jesus. If some of these suggestions are helpful, please let me know in a comment, or if you have found something that is helpful, write it in the comments or send an email. Let others know what has helped you, chances are it can also bless them.
We can have joy, we don’t need a Shakabuku, but we can move ahead together.
Remember, I am here if you need me.
Blessings always, and during this season.