Resist Urges and They will Past.

Breathe Deeplyphoto © 2009 Amanda Hirsch | more info (via: Wylio)

Over the years, I’ve heard different advice about resisting urges and/or impulses … but none ever solidly registered with me until this one:

Resist urges and they will past.

Yea, I know … it’s earth shattering, isn’t it?

Not exactly, but for some reason, it registered with me.

When I watched this online panel discussion about life management, one of the speakers talked about urges and what to do with them. Whether the urge is to buy something, eat something or say something.

Resist urges and they will past.

Resisting doesn’t mean stubbornly refusing to feel the urge and pretending you don’t have it. Instead it means stopping, thinking about the urge (yes, I want to eat that cookie) and allowing yourself to feel the urge.

What does it feel like?

Can you live with the feeling for a minute? An hour? A day? A lifetime?

Just because you have the urge to do something … like buy something that you don’t have the money for, doesn’t mean you need to do it. This resonates with the less is more attitude I try to live with.

Breathe deep … feel … think … then make a choice. Make the best long term choice … not what your urge wants you to do at any particular moment.

If you try this and it works … I’d love to hear about it.

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  • Cathie

    It absolutely works! Taking four or five deep “belly” breaths can totally change my perspective. When I’m faced with temptation, I breathe deep and put it off — sometimes for five minutes, sometimes an hour, sometimes longer. I give myself permission to decide later if I still want to eat the cookie or send off the angry email or whatever. In a few minutes, the urge usually passes.

    • http://janetober.com Janet Ober

      Thanks Cathie … great thoughts, taking those deep breaths can sure help bring balance, patience and even clear one’s mind.

  • Susan D

    So needed to read this today. Thank you Janet.

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  • http://www.ayoungmomsmusings.blogspot.com Young Mom

    I think that really depends on the urge. Some things (like being gay or transgendered) don’t seem as if they go away merely from resisting them.

    • http://janetober.com Janet Ober

      Hi YM,
      Totally agree … I don’t put those urges in the same category as wanting to eat an extra cookie or spending money one doesn’t have.

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