It’s OK to Tell Yourself You’re OK Even if You Don’t Feel Very OK

On the importance of positive self-talk

Andy Spears
3 min readDec 5, 2022
Photo by Christina @ wocintechchat.com on Unsplash

I recall very clearly the time — at age 43 — when I reached out for help.

I had been shopping at a Wal-Mart. I had a list; it was a routine trip — just the basics.

My cart was half full with the contents of my list — every two weeks, Wal-Mart. Items the house needed.

And then, I couldn’t go on.

All I could think about was running through the aisles, breaking things, screaming. How much could I break before someone noticed? How far would I need to go until someone called for help? How long before I was a psych patient somewhere?

I didn’t break anything, of course.

I stood there. A middle-aged man in khakis and a t-shirt.

I stood still and looked at my list and looked at my phone.

And I thought: I should just leave the store.

But, that would be weird. I still have items to get. And my cart is already half-full.

So, I went to the bathroom. I googled therapists.

I found a few that seemed ok. Sent an email to one of them.

--

--

Andy Spears

Writer and policy advocate living in Nashville, TN —Public Policy Ph.D. — writes on education policy, consumer affairs, and more . . .