If you are struggling with negative thoughts at the moment, especially due to this crisis, I ‘d like to share a practice with you that should help.
Imagine for second that your thoughts are like cars on the road. Some of them might be positive, some of them might be negative. Rather than suppressing the negative ones or forcing the positive ones, simply observe these thoughts coming and going. Ask yourself “Who is aware of these thoughts?”.
Asking yourself who is aware of your thoughts enables you to create a healthy distance between you and the thoughts you are experiencing. You are the road while the cars come and go.
I’d like to you take a blank white paper and a pencil now. Sit in a comfortable chair, turn off your phone and inform your family, friends or whomever that you will be unavailable for 20min.
The Practice:
When ready, just sit.
Every time a thought comes into consciousness, write a tick on your paper. This exercise if not a test and it is not about winning or growing. It’s about helping you become conscious of your mental activity. Every time a thought pops into mind, write a tick. Pause the video and try it.
What did you notice? What were you thinking about? How fast were the thoughts coming? Did they slow down? Were you able to breathe more easily? It’s not about doing it right or wrong. It’s simply about becoming aware.
I have found that thoughts slow down and become less sticky. Rather than following every thought that comes into consciousness, I watch them come and go. Some of them are useful and help me accomplish my daily activities.
And then suddenly, as if out of the blue, deeper feelings emerge that never had air time before. When the deeper feelings come, it may be tempting to push them away. If you're up to it, allow yourself to feel it. Sadness, anger, rage, grief are just some of the emotions that may emerge.
Watch as these emotions change and shift all on their own. By the end, your heart may feel much lighter and any compulsive behaviour may have vanished, leaving you energised and in good mental health.
Benefits include:
If you’re interested in developing this practice, feel free to contact me.
Pleasure to support you,
Sergio