Free e-book: The First 8 Steps to healing from divorce
Do you have to follow some little daily ritual or your whole day goes pear-shaped?
Then stop for a second. And think about it. Actually think about it.
Then stop for a second. And think about it. Actually think about it.
Your life being great is not dependent on getting out of bed with your right foot first. Or checking your daily angel card or wearing a lucky slipper or washing in the right order.
And believing that it is weakens you.
It undermines your personal power by saying something else has control over your life instead of you. It increases your anxiety. It makes you less smart, less effective and less able to have an awesome, happy and fulfilling life.
So stop doing it!
What Exactly is Stupid-stition?
Superstition is the belief in supernatural causality – that one event causes another without any natural process linking the two events – such as astrology, religion, omens, witchcraft, prophecies, etc. which contradict natural science.
“It’s a widely held but irrational belief in supernatural influences, especially as leading to good or bad luck,” Oxford Dictionary. See, even the dictionary says it’s irrational nonsense.
“But aren’t these silly little rituals harmless?” You may ask. I say not at all.
The Hidden Harm to Your Mental Health
I see it too often – superstitions are very far from harmless. In fact, they’re extremely dangerous to you and your mental well-being.
Apart from the fact that you’re regularly throwing rational, intelligent thinking out the window, you’re also giving away control over your life. Bit by bit. Ritual by ritual. Horoscope by horoscope…
Superstitions Make You Forget that You Are in Control
When we engage in Superstitions we give our power away to something outside of ourselves.
Almost as if this behavior, ritual or lucky charm is going to make everything ok. We forget that we have a say in how our life goes and that to be powerful in life it takes responsibility.
This is especially harmful to us when the superstition is causing anxiety, or you’re trying to use it as a solution to anxiety. Superstitions can be broken into two groups; rituals and often the much more harmful anxiety.
Simple Pointless Rituals
Most of us occasionally participate in superstitious thinking or behaviour – often without even realising we’re doing it.
Just think; when was the last time you knocked on wood, walked within the lines, avoided a black cat, or read your daily horoscope? These are all examples of ‘magical thinking’ as if these things will make our day or life better.
If you need to kick a ritual or habit like this, start by looking up where it originated. Find out what evil spirit you’re trying to ward off or whatever. And after having a good laugh, stop doing it.
Why Add Anxiety to Your Life – Isn’t Life Complicated Enough Already?
Sometimes a superstition can be a sign of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) where people have compulsions to do rituals over and over again, often interfering with everyday life.
OCD is an anxiety disorder and a good example is Jack Nicholson’s character in the movie As Good As It Gets, you remember? He skips cracks in the sidewalk and eats at the same table in the same restaurant every day, with an inability to cope with any change in routine.
People with OCD believe that if they don’t worry about something, the likelihood of it happening will go up. And that’s a superstitious thought.
Even if you don’t have full-blown OCD, if you need to follow a ritual or you get anxious, you’re acting out similar patterns. You’re pointlessly making your life harder for no reason.
Your Self-Empowering Action Plan
So let’s make sure you’re free of all this nonsense. The key is firstly to pay attention to your own thinking, particularly if you experience any symptoms of anxiety.
This could be tension, excessive worry, trouble sleeping, obsessive thoughts and exhaustion, for example. If you experience these symptoms or find that you have repetitive ritualized behavior that’s out of control – whether superstitious or not – it’s a sign you need help.
Do you feel you might need some guidance?
Or do you have any questions at all about superstitions
If you enjoyed this post, I’d be very grateful if you’d help it spread by emailing it to a friend, or sharing it on Twitter or Facebook.
With you in service
Book a Clarity Call for any divorce or break up support you need,
