Also Byron Katie at www.thework.com has an exercise where you walk through a scenario and ask yourself if the thought or belief you have about it is true. Then you turn the belief around, basically stating its opposite, and see if that could be true as well. It is very interesting work, a very interesting exercise. I haven't looked at in a while. I'm glad to be reminded of it! Our mind is such a powerful thing!
Ha! It's like you went to therapy with me. My therapist was talking to me about how we tend to look at most unknown situations in a negative context. Going to a party: I don't want to go. It isn't going to be any fun and I won't know anyone. Starting at a new school: I won't know where I'm going. I won't have anyone to talk to. I totally related to this and had to agree that my mind racing over all the possible things that can go wrong, sets me on a course of poor sleep and anxious days! Not sure if being aware of it will help me write a new script, but a new perspective is a tool in my toolbox.
Thanks for sharing, Sandy. Yes, awareness is definitely the starting point. Like I said, I write what I need to hear. Apparently I need to return to that awareness again and again and again. Also, I highly recommend looking into the work on self-compassion, if you get a chance. You can find Kristin Neff on lots of podcasts if you do a search.
I love Kristin Neff!
Also Byron Katie at www.thework.com has an exercise where you walk through a scenario and ask yourself if the thought or belief you have about it is true. Then you turn the belief around, basically stating its opposite, and see if that could be true as well. It is very interesting work, a very interesting exercise. I haven't looked at in a while. I'm glad to be reminded of it! Our mind is such a powerful thing!
Thanks for sharing, Lori. I've heard of Byron Katie. I'm going to check out that exercise. It seems like it could be very helpful.
Ha! It's like you went to therapy with me. My therapist was talking to me about how we tend to look at most unknown situations in a negative context. Going to a party: I don't want to go. It isn't going to be any fun and I won't know anyone. Starting at a new school: I won't know where I'm going. I won't have anyone to talk to. I totally related to this and had to agree that my mind racing over all the possible things that can go wrong, sets me on a course of poor sleep and anxious days! Not sure if being aware of it will help me write a new script, but a new perspective is a tool in my toolbox.
Thanks for sharing, Sandy. Yes, awareness is definitely the starting point. Like I said, I write what I need to hear. Apparently I need to return to that awareness again and again and again. Also, I highly recommend looking into the work on self-compassion, if you get a chance. You can find Kristin Neff on lots of podcasts if you do a search.