The benefit of sharing

"A problem shared is a problem halved" - you've heard the saying. 

I have been reflecting on the vast amounts of distraction available to us all in our daily lives and the way that these levels of visual, audible and mental noise become overwhelming when we are troubled, or searching for direction or are unsure of how to proceed. 

It's difficult to work out our own path when we are being pulled in so many different directions by the demands of our lives - not to mention the vast range of available distractions offered by the impressive technology we all have access to these days.  

But when it comes to solving problems or sorting out a 'next step', I realise that, for me at least, the stress of living increases when I become too introspective. That is, when I stop sharing or expressing the very things that are bothering me.  

That's when I get stressed by distractions, noise, too many competing activities, questions from others, social demands, appointments, lack of time and so on.

At these moments it's tempting to shut down the noise, hide ourselves away, avoid daily life ... in the hope that we will come upon a solution if we just concentrate hard enough. Unfortunately, this approach tends to close off the flow of solutions or alternatives to the very issue we are trying to unblock. 

Instead it helps to talk about it out loud and let it go a little by sharing it, expressing it - which then alleviates the presssure and allows solutions to flow into focus more easily.

Who can you share with today? What other ways can you express your feelings and thoughts around an issue, be it writing, painting, dancing, drawing, singing, playing ... or simply letting it go and trusting that a solution will come. 

Sarah x