Let your fingers do the worrying….

August 3, 2009 jocameron0
Tags: Live TV, overthinking

Let your fingers do the worrying

 

“I can make it,” I said. “It’s tight but I can make it”. The voice on the other end of the phone sounded uncertain “are you sure?” “Yes,” I said “I WILL make it”.

It was 1036 on a Sunday morning and BBC News 24 had just called to invite me live on air at 1125. Harriet Harman had written a piece about men in politics and they wanted me to comment on it. Its right up my street and I didn’t want to pass on the opportunity but time was against me. It’s at least a  40 minute drive to the studio in Birmingham so I had no time to hang around.

I wasn’t showered or dressed yet as I had been catching up on my paperwork and BBC Five live had woken me at 0730 to give an interview at 0840 so I had been preparing for that too.

That meant I had around five minutes to turn myself into a presentable TV contributor!! My favourite dress wasn’t even dry properly and certainly wasn’t ironed but this was needs must so a quick cat lick and some mousse in my wet hair would have to do.

I called a few people to tell them what was happening and off I rushed into the car.

Into the studio I rushed at 1026 as my ear piece was thrust into my ear. The voice in my ear from London said “Jo we are coming to you shortly”. Ideally I would have liked to get my breath back but I didn’t even have time for that. I articulated through the questions from the faceless interviewer at the other end (all I have is a camera to stare into) as if I had all the time in the world. I’d have time to catch my breath once the interview had finished.

It’s a great honour and privilege to be asked to contribute on TV about my specialist subject and as I thanked the team for rushing me in I was proud of how I held it all together.

Next up was Radio WM just down the stairs. I did a lively interview with Adrian Goldberger then set on my way home again.

How quickly things can change ………

It was whilst I was sitting down with my partner and having dinner outside in the late evening sun that I felt compelled to write. Having just awoken from my hypnotherapy my blood sugar had dipped. Low blood sugar is not good when you are pregnant, it doesn’t empower the mind. It’s like starvation of the good thinking juices and its not good news.  My body tells me it wants to eat by flooding my body with anxiety chemicals. Anxiety leads to overthink as I contemplate the jiggling movement going on inside my belly. She is 30 weeks old this week and we creep ever closer to meeting our baby daughter. I’m overthinking the impending few weeks, “will it, wont it, might it, what if this, what if that”. I know I’m doing it and because I’m well practised I know how to stop.

There are many techniques that I use to stop any overthinking and today its writing. This time I’m writing to you. I’m writing to say that all of us are human. We can be strong in front of cameras one minute then shaking in our shoes the next. It’s all part of growth and emotional feelings, both of which are normal.

The tricks of the mind are the amazing things we can learn. As the laptop holds my hand and guides my fingers to type, each letter takes a worry away, each sentence calms me down. It takes away a little cloud and replaces it with joy. A problem shared is a problem halved and the keyboard acts as an eager ear. In my book, Turnaroudability, I have dedicated a whole section to the benefits of writing so I know that it works.

As I near the end, I would like to thank you for letting me write to you. I’m back on top of my game and my overthinking has stopped. Letting it out is better than keeping it in and now I feel much better. To you I owe the deepest of gratitude for helping me through today.

We don’t need to struggle on alone in disquiet, let your fingers do the worrying so you don’t have to.

To find out more about how to stop your overthinking book on our seminar at http://womenontheirway.co.uk/booktickets.htm

Entry Filed under: Turnaroundability,Uncategorized

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