Too much information

October 15, 2009 - Posted by tamilb
The Police know too much information can drive you insane. Hip-O Records. Photo Credit: Janette Beckman.

The Police know too much information can drive you insane. Hip-O Records. Photo Credit: Janette Beckman.

The Police have a song called Too Much Information that sums up the way I’ve been feeling these days. Ah, the Police! It reminds me of simpler times  in the 80s when my biggest worry was meeting a cute guy and trying to spike my hair with gel.

I digress. One of the hazards of Breast Cancer Awareness Month is information overload. I try to keep up on the latest medical findings and stories in the news, but I’m finding myself overwhelmed by it all. Also, there is a lot of negative information like the Newsweek article my husband sent me yesterday about how we’re losing the war on cancer http://www.newsweek.com/id/157548.

OK, it’s only mid-October and I’m sick of it. I need to escape. Last night I was talking with some friends about how when I focus on outer circumstances, it wrecks my serenity. Yesterday I was scrambling to find some mammography films in preparation for my visit to Indianapolis for a second opinion. As it is, I need to go to four different places to try to piece together my scan history. Plus, I’ve been looking at clinical trials, which is making my head spin. The result: stress. Then I add to it by worrying about being stressed because I know it breaks down the immune system, yada, yada, yada.

Enough! As I was telling my friends, the only way I can shut off all these outer stresses is to go within, breath deeply and recite my favorite prayer: God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

Truth be told, there are some things I can do, but I need to let God do the rest. I know there is a power greater than myself working here, and it isn’t me! As they say in The Wizard of Oz, “Surrender Dorothy!”  I believe by surrendering what I think I know, I let God’s guidance come through.

I know some of you out there have different religious/spiritual beliefs, but this works for me. What helps you?

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 15th, 2009 at 9:44 AM and is filed under Faith. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

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