Oh, Yeah, I Forgot About That

Our intention, with this essay, is clarifying.

Clarifying a simple, quick method that can help you move beyond the thoughts that are hurting you.

Or, if not “hurting you,” preventing you from being in a place of peace, power, and possibility.

So, with that intention in mind, let’s begin!

A Brief Clarification

Anxiety is present in my life.

Just as it is, presumably, is, in yours.

Sometimes, the anxiety is fine; brief, ephemeral, and irrelevant.

Other times, though, the anxiety is anything but; omnipresent, inescapable, and absolutely petrifying.

Right now, it is the former. And, it will stay that way; that’s my intention.

During those moments of anxiety, there are, at times, certain thoughts that arise.

No, not “thoughts,” per se; fears, anxieties, and minor obsessions.

Some of these thoughts — we’ll call them that, since it is a little easier — are rather mundane; fears about death and my family, among other, related, thoughts.

Others, though, are far more unnerving; thoughts about the body and mind, fears of being lost in another part of myself, a sense of anxiety regarding the inevitable passage of time.

Every now and then, within those patterns, there are certain ideas that, for whatever reason, stick to me.

Just as an example, in May of 2023, the following idea came to me: my memories may not be real and, furthermore, this moment is likely the only moment that truly exists.

The validity of this thought — or, more specifically, it’s invalidity — was known to me. But, it was very difficult for me to shake it and, in turn, to focus on something else.

And, within the moments that followed this idea, flowing into me, a single phrase came to me.

A single phrase that turned into a simple, but remarkably effective, method for dispelling the nasty, fearful thoughts that just won’t let go.

You can find that single phrase, and the method it led to, right below.

“Oh, Yeah, I Forgot About That.”

The phrase that came to me was “Oh, yeah, I forgot about that.”

A thought comes to you.

You don’t like the thought; it unsettles you.

But, it keeps coming.

You choose to go beyond the thought.

And, then, you say to yourself, “Oh, yeah, I forgot about that.”

You say it to yourself.

But, when you say this, say it as if you just remembered this thought, after having forgotten about it.

The thought holds no power. The thought holds no weight. The thought holds no validity.

You have moved beyond this thought.

Right after you say this phrase to yourself, at least once, focus on something else.

If you can, find something that absorbs your attention; a good book, for example, or a fun activity.

Soon enough, that thought will no longer be present.

Conclusion

Anxiety can be debilitating.

But, sometimes, simple methods can be, and are, effective.

My hope is that this method works for you.