Humans are full of optimism as a species. What harm is there in hoping for the best? NONE, as long as there is some actual spark of reality-based thinking in it AND we’re not using it as a tool of denial.

This week’s blogspiration comes courtesy of a visit to Holiday World with our visiting 11 and just-14 year old nieces. The day was standard fare for an amusement park, but as the hours wore on, the clouds gathered and eventually the expected announcement came that with thunderstorms being spotted in the area, all outdoor attractions (read: anything you went there to do) would be shut down for safety’s sake until weather had passed. Two hours remained in the day. The sky evidenced absolutely no intent to relent. Elder niece (heretoafter referred to as the eternal optimist) was determined to get one more ride in and remained adamant that we sit at the site of the tallest coaster awaiting the (to her mind) inevitable Red Sea-like parting of the clouds that would allow her to be aggressively jostled one more time by a wooden ride.

Michael and I were loathe to squash her dream, but as time passed, and the rain ebbed and flowed, picking up pace each return, we finally had to pull rank and advise that despite the contractual obligation of the park staff against admitting that there wasn’t a snowball’s chance in Hades of reopening, there just wasn’t.

Denial is a powerful force. In the Meltdown, it most frequently manifests in scale avoidance and what I think of as the Annie phenomenon: “Tomorrow is always a day away.” IF you find yourself thinking that you will weigh in NEXT week, or get a great start tomorrow, then you are likely engaging in denial that things are going off the rails.

YOU must pull rank on your inner child who doesn’t want to face reality when you hear those dangerous thoughts creeping in. When we don’t want to do something, it’s EXTREMELY easy to come up with an excuse not to. Reach out to a friend to meet them for weigh-in. Tell your 3P group you’re struggling. And friends, when your friend is asking for help, or enjoying an extended visit in denial-land, you can call it for what it is, or:

All the best,

Marcey

Coach Marcey Tidwell started as a client with NGPT in January 2011. Joining the team as an accountability coach, she wears many hats in assisting the Meltdown Nation! Nurse Marcey by day, she brings a wealth of knowledge the program! She doesn’t always like the view above the sand, but hates having her butt sticking up in the air.