What more does our OCD want – To contain us mentally within its box? It’s box of limitless limitations for us to be it’s punching bag? That’s certainly not natural. We are meant to learn, grow, and evolve – within and outside the box. Is it that our OCD hates us and truly wants us for sparring sessions? Or does it have it’s own expectations as a mentor, pushing us to bounce back like a bop bag?
I would just like to think that my OCD is not actually my enemy as I’ve perceived since we first met as teen. Because what it actually feels like, is that it is perched atop a box dancing at my expense. Ugh OCD, whether enemy or mentor, the fight is stuffy from within. Outside the box we go – We got this!
Play Outside The Box:
Tag, you’re it! No better way to get outside of your box, and outside of your own head then with a game. Play your heart out and play things your way. In this game of tag, there are no tag backsies and no freezing. Those were OCD’s rules, but you’re it now, you play without limitations. You don’t have to freeze in your moment, you don’t have to compulsively tag back. Enjoy your chase and tag freely.
Look at OCD and observe it’s actions. It wants a tag back, because it wants to be it, it wants control. Do as you please but remember, you’re currently playing outside the box, not sure OCD will play the same. Tag the monster if you want, but be prepared to learn from that failure. And definitely pay attention to it’s relentlessness as a result.
Without boundaries, it too will give chase after you. It just doesn’t quit that easily. “Tag me, tag me, tag me” it utters at every chance. But you’re the one that’s it now and maybe you wanna tag something else. Maybe you want to attack that hunger monster and tag that juicy cheeseburger. Tag it and eat it in victory as the belly growls no more. I don’t know, just a suggestion, you’re the one that’s it.
Maybe you want to tag a dream of yours instead. Pursue, accomplish, and rejoice – Whatever floats your boat. Whatever you can think of, you’re currently playing outside the box.
Think Outside The Box:
Hmmm – Insert that thinking emoji, or better yet, insert your own thinking face. Ew, not that face though. That looks more like your pooping face instead. Oh, your thinking face and pooping face are the same? To each their own then. Either way, why limit your thoughts to what OCD wants you to think of? You have the ability to think unconventionally, so think outside the box.
Obsess over something new, without the compulsion to follow up. Obsess about you winning. Whatever you’re playing, be it ‘tag’ or ‘the career game’, you can win at it. Think like a winner, give you some hype ass self talks while we’re at it. Pump your hypothetical chest, then pump your actual chest like you’re king or queen of your jungle.
Realize that you actually are king, or that you are queen. That type of positivity shuns OCD and it feels good too. Try it, think something like “Yeah, I am the boss squid in this ocean!” I don’t know how you hype yourself up, just do it – No judgement here.
Besides, you’re thinking outside the box with no limitations.
Do Outside The Box:
You’re playing, you’re thinking, now apply all that to doing outside the box. This is where the obsessive compulsive disorder will neglected and apply it’s own new tactics. Doing means trying first, and trying leads to failures. No matter what OCD says, failing is absolutely an option. If you fail at trying, or doing, or OCDoing, just know that you have a learning opportunity there.
What’s insanity again – Doing the same things over and over expecting different results? If you’re relying on OCD’s boxed ways of playing, thinking, and doing, then we can’t be surprised when we are the ones upset at ourself. If we fail, we learn, and do again – but outside the box.
One thing I tend to forget often, is who gave OCD these rules and laws to enforce. That was from within the box and when it’s presented by intrusive thoughts, my actions either function from within the box or outside. Like I’m teetering the edge of stuffy box ways or freeing recovery ways.
This is where that positive self talk helps me lean towards recovery ways.
Positive Self Talk:
Come on king, come on squid (what? I like it now, hehe). You got this, puff puff (that’s me puffing my chest). Flex on em, show how strong you are. Positive self talk flushes the negative self talk. The more we do it, the more we believe it over the negativity. Essentially, when dealing with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, positive self talk can flush the anxiety too. Making you more comfortable with rejecting compulsions.
Rejecting compulsions is the recovery game. That’s the game that if we succeed in, opens so many doors of opportunity. All because we started with positive self talk.
Negative Self Talk:
We can’t do it, negativity just shouldn’t be an option. Let me tell you what my OCD likes from negative self talk – Everything about it. If feeds off of that crap.
You ever witness something out of your control, like a sporting event or an award ceremony for example? You ever try reverse psychology as if it really works? “Oh, the team I want isn’t going to win”, or “I probably won’t win that award at work”.
Why do we do it? Because if we are right, we feel as if we won’t be as disappointed – “See, told ya”. But if we are wrong, and the better outcome happens, we feel ecstatic and that our negativity earned us the preferred outcome. That thinking is poison.
Negative self talk sticks like trash on the inside of a dumpster’s walls. But positive self talk also sticks like celebratory confetti to the skin.
Choose What You Want To Stick:
That inside the box thinking will choose negativity. Outside the box thinking nurtures positivity. Our OCD will battle either one, but as enemy or mentor? Maybe it’s our choice.
Free to subscribers
Let me know if you found this helpful. I am curious to hear your spin. Leave a comment or find me on Twitter @UghOCD or Instagram @brentleybigkid.
