A bittersweet time around this time of year is paying taxes. Last year I was caught off guard as to how much I owed as it was the first full year my company Clearer Thoughts brought in revenue. This year, I was a bit more prepared as I started the process last fall of paying quarterly taxes which is paying an estimation of revenue each quarter. Paying quarterly taxes on time takes some planning.
The sweet part of paying taxes is that this is a huge check of my list and is always good to pay on time. While the bitter part if the feeling of more money than I would like to leave my checking account.
When I must get out a larger amount of money, I have had to take it out of some annuities I have. Say I owe $4000 in taxes, and I need to take that out. If I take out the net amount, I get the $4000 but what is added on is federal and state tax so that may mean that another $1500 is added on to get out that $4000. So that is $5500 in total taken out to pay $4000.
Next year this time, I am going to avoid this by making my quarterly payments on time so I do not have to take out money that is essentially wasted. Why do I bring up paying quarterly taxes? So glad you asked!
A common cognitive fallacy called Catastrophizing going to a worst-case scenario is something everyone can relate to. However, someone who is dealing with obsessive compulsive disorder cannot stop that downward spiral of escaping a thought of a worst case such as “did I turn off the coffee maker” which leads to “the house is going to burn down.”
One way to alleviate this downward spiral is by being proactive and planning. A hack I read about when someone is worried if they turned off the stove/coffee maker/toaster over is to purchase a smart plug where the devices can be turned off with a smartphone. Another is to take a picture of the device when it is turned off as proof.
This does not just apply to someone who has compulsive thoughts. Yesterday I had to mail out three pieces of mail. Taxes for federal, for state and my quarterly taxes. I had just one stamp which meant a trip to the post office.
Since just about everyone is at the post office sending off taxes, I felt anxious and impatient standing in the long line at the post office. I remembered that the grocery store sold stamps and so I went there instead. Immediately my anxiety dissipated, and I was on time for my next client.
With technology being more affordable, a friend of mine told me about the routines feature on Alexa. Alexa can be set to turn off lights at a certain time, turn on cameras when a person is not at home and reminds them when to buy for an item that is low. Since these actions are automated, this causes much less anxiety.
Often someone, me included looks for the cure of an affliction through a pill. All a person must do is swallow a pill. However, the “cure” lies more in the everyday management and effort of putting the hard work.
A friend of mine had both knees replaced at the same time. He said the pain after the operation was hard enough. The hardest and most painful part was going to rehab to essentially learn how to walk again. Even though he did not have the option of not going through with rehab, he said if did not endure the pain sometimes so much where he would pass out, he would never walk again.
Supposedly, the two events that are unavoidable are death and taxes. Is there something you have been putting off because of the effort and potential pain involved? You know that after, life would be so much better, but you are not sure if it is even worth the effort?
If you are looking for a therapist near you then a Google search is a great way of finding one. I happen to be a therapist in Charlotte, NC but am licensed to counsel anyone in the state of North Carolina. In Google, try looking for “psychotherapist,” “find therapist,” “therapy near me,” or even “counseling charlotte, nc.” If you feel like you have hit a wall you are not able to get past, call me at (704) 458-6298 or email me at jeffhelms@clearerthoughtspllc.com.
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