{"id":7542,"date":"2012-09-15T13:11:09","date_gmt":"2012-09-15T20:11:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/andre\/?p=7542"},"modified":"2017-04-23T16:32:15","modified_gmt":"2017-04-23T16:32:15","slug":"a-terrible-case-of-the-what-ifs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/iamsignificant.ca\/andre\/sole-significance\/a-terrible-case-of-the-what-ifs\/","title":{"rendered":"A Terrible Case of the What if"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last night, while I lay thinking here,
\nsome What\u00a0ifs crawled inside my ear
\nand pranced and partied all night long
\nand sang their same old What-if song:<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

What\u00a0if I'm dumb in school?
\nWhat\u00a0if they've closed the swimming pool?
\nWhat\u00a0if I get beat up?
\nWhat\u00a0if there's poison in my cup?
\nWhat\u00a0if I start to cry?
\nWhat\u00a0if I get sick and die?
\nWhat\u00a0if I flunk that test?
\nWhat\u00a0if green hair grows on my chest?
\nWhat if nobody likes me?
\nWhat\u00a0if a bolt of lightning strikes me?
\nWhat\u00a0if I don't grow talle?
\nWhat\u00a0if my head starts getting smaller?
\nWhat\u00a0if the fish won't bite?
\nWhat\u00a0if the wind tears up my kite?
\nWhat\u00a0if they start a war?
\nWhat\u00a0if my parents get divorced?
\nWhat\u00a0if the bus is late?
\nWhat\u00a0if my teeth don't grow in straight?
\nWhat\u00a0if I tear my pants?
\nWhat\u00a0if I never learn to dance?
\nEverything seems well, and then\u00a0the nighttime What-ifs strike again!<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

~\u00a0Shel Silverstein\u00a0in\u00a0A Light in the Attic<\/em>, page 90\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/span><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

 <\/p>\n

Every once in a while I wake up from a deep sleep, and like Silverstein's poem, the What-ifs are there and want to play! Maybe you are like me, and the What-ifs like to visit you as well? It is no surprise these are rooted in fear - some that could perhaps be legitimate and others that just seem so irrational. Regardless the What-ifs love to whisper in your ear about a situation that has little basis in fact and quite honestly little we can do about it - especially at 3 am.<\/span><\/p>\n

I find that the often I get caught on a treadmill where I anticipate every horrible thing that could happen in a situation and rehearse my reaction and strategy to deal with each one. Oh, how the What-ifs delight in this game! Kidding aside, this can be really tough to get through and make for a lousy nights sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n

Here are a few things that I find help:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/h2>\n

1) I like to pray<\/strong>. \u00a0This is a deliberate shift from looking inward to looking upward. This change in perspective can be powerful! \u00a0I ask the Father for a deep sense of the peace that passes understanding found in Him.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2) I invite God into my worry and ask for eyes to see the issue the way He does<\/strong>, for the light of truth to dispel the shadows of lies and ask for protection,\u00a0guidance, and wisdom.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

3) I also like to turn the game around on the What-ifs<\/em><\/strong>. \u00a0 Instead of following them down into\u00a0the syphon of despair, my response to what-ifs<\/em> is looking for positive outcomes. \u00a0Instead of imagining the worst, turn it on it's head with hope!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

4) Pick a verse or two of scripture about the steadfastness of God and reflect on them<\/strong>. How faithful, good and loving the Father truly is! \u00a0<\/span>Nothing can\u00a0separate\u00a0us from the love of God, \u00a0<\/span>Jesus, His disciple in a boat in a storm<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/span>,<\/span> \u00a0 <\/span>Consider the lilies as a couple of examples.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Remember God is for you! \u00a0He is for you because He loves you and regardless of whatever storms you may walk through, He is faithful and true to be with you through it. \u00a0Ask for the grace to experience His loving presence in the midst of the carrying-ons of the What-ifs<\/em>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Last night, while I lay thinking here, some What\u00a0ifs crawled inside my ear and pranced and partied all night long and sang their same old What-if song: What\u00a0if I'm dumb in school? What\u00a0if they've closed the swimming pool? What\u00a0if I get beat up? What\u00a0if there's poison in my cup? What\u00a0if I start to cry? What\u00a0if I get sick and die? Continue Reading<\/a>","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":7544,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[33],"tags":[63,81,129,175,221,246,248,451,554],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\t\n