The Negative Swirl

💭 When the Mind Gets Stuck in the Swirl

There are moments when the weight of our thoughts begins to pull us downward—an invisible whirlpool spinning faster. And suddenly, we’re swirling in a bowl of negative thoughts.

One after the other.

Life doesn’t just pull us down — it sucks us in.

Like a stubborn flush that won’t quite commit, we find ourselves stuck in the vortex of our own crappy thoughts.

We all know the feeling.

🌀 The Spiral

It starts with one small frustration… and before we know it, it snowballs.

Sneaky how fast it happens ---the words creeping in:

"This Sucks."

"I’m the worst."

"I can’t do it."

Each whisper tightens the pull. One story feeds the next, and we find ourselves circling deeper into the bowl of self-doubt.

Drowning in the mayhem.

Marinating in our own mental sludge.

A lovely image, right?

But honestly --- this is human.

It’s natural.

It's Human Nature.

Our brains are wired to notice threats. And when we're in that state, the world narrows.

Our focus locks onto the negative. We start noticing everything that's "wrong." Looking to find it, in every situation. We stop noticing anything beyond it. We're locked into it.

We stop seeing anything beyond it.

Not what’s good.

Not how far we’ve come.

Not the quiet wins.

Every sign seems to confirm the story we’re telling ourselves.

How can we see it amidst the muddle?

🧠 When the Brain Throws a Pool Party

They say, "change your narrative!"

But it has such a sneaky power.

The power of a negative mindset — it doesn’t just visit; it throws a pool party and invites its friends.

Fear

Shame.

Resistance.

The energy is all consuming. Everyone gets sucked in.

We get clogged ---emotionally, mentally, physically.

Our system feels broken.

Perseveration, dysregulation ---- dysfunctional.

It's so heavy.

We stop moving.

We get backed up!

🪠 The Plunging Moment

Here’s the truth, though: toilets don’t unclog themselves.

(And neither do brains).

We need tools. Strategies.

A good ole plunger. Be it metaphorical... or otherwise.

I love using this toilet flush analogy with the families and children I work with. Why?

Because it makes sense.

We can see the swirl.

We can name it.

And when we can name it, we can shift it.

🌿 Creating Flow Again

So, just like a toilet needs a plunger or a bit of Drain-O to keep things flowing, our minds need strategies to keep thoughts moving too.

• A breath.

• A reframe.

• A grounding practice.

• A moment of noticing what is—Not just the annoyances.

Not just what hurts.

Maybe take that walk in the crisp fall air.

Notice the birds fly by.

Watch a leaf float down, weightless to the pull.

Sun spilling through the trees---golden beams landing softly on your skin.

Light seeping into your bones, a quiet reminder: you are meant to feel this world.

• The good.

• The bad.

• The ugly.

  
  

Each crunchy step sends sparks of dopamine through your body, the kind only nature knows how to make.

It's not loud, it's alive --- a soft awakening of the skin, eyes, breath, and soul.

🫂 The Power of Connection

We often forget to care for ourselves ---when we're stuck.

We forget how a simple conversation can lift the weight.

Human connection, understanding----a voice that meets yours.

A shared laugh cracks the heaviness ----just enough for light to slip in.

Or maybe it’s simply whispering to yourself:

"This will pass."

"I can try my best."

"This isn’t so bad.”

That gentle nudge to befriend your inner voice with the same kindness you so freely give others.

🧘‍♀️ What We Feed Ourselves Matters

Just like what we feed our bodies shapes what we release, what we feed our minds shapes our perspective.

Neglect brings buildup.

Care brings flow.

We all carry battles and weights, don’t we?

They may look different to the outside world.

But when we’re stuck, we’re in it—caught in the swirl of it all.

What differs is our perception… how it shapes us, how it lands.

And that feeling? That’s where we find the quiet medicine of comradery—an unspoken understanding.

A soft, steady empathy.

The kind that reminds us we all ache to be acknowledged, seen, and accepted for exactly who we are.

🍂 Letting Go with the Seasons

So, as the seasons shift, the trees let go of what no longer serves them.

The ground softens, making space for roots to rest.

We too can choose to release the debris of our thoughts.

The air cools, the world exhales. Nature prepares for a quiet season of rest and so can we.

As we all prepare for hibernation!

Time to reorganize not just our closets but our minds.

Release the mental junk that's been clogging our flow.

Clear the noise.

Declutter the inner landscape.

Reflect.

Make space.

Return to flow.

This season of slowing down isn’t the end — it’s the reset. The quiet that makes way for new growth come spring.

🚿 A Final Thought

Your mind isn’t broken—it’s just clogged. And like any good plumber will tell you: with the right tools, the water moves again.

The swirl isn’t the end of the story. It’s simply a sign.

A sign to pick up the plunger.

To breathe.

To return to flow.

With Love,

Melanie Watts