Great Tools 10/01/2009
 
Journaling is another expressive arts modality that I LOVE! It is one of the more powerful ways to shift distressing thoughts in a fairly short amount of time.  One of my favorites, and one that I just practiced, centers our thoughts on what we do and do not control.  Here's the truth:

I do not control:
Events
Weather
Time
What others Say, Do, Think, Feel, or Believe!

I do control:
What I put in my mouth
Getting out of bed
What I wear
What I say
What I believe
Where I work
Who I am with
The choices I make
The decisions I make
How I react/respond
What I think

People, myself included, often forget this and there is a very simple journaling exercise to help.  I just practiced it.  It goes like this.  When I find myself embroiled in a situation that I don't like and I find myself feeling powerless and angry, I grab my pen and my journal and I write out the scenario.  I do not edit myself.  I let it all out.
Then I make a simple two column list.  On the left side I label it: In my control.  On the right side I label it: Out of my control.  I then take all the events in the scenario and sort them.  What I usually find is that a lot of what I am upset about falls on the out of my control side.  This is why I feel powerless.  I cannot make someone do the "right" thing.  I cannot make someone tell the truth or stop conducting themselves in a manner that causes me suffering BUT I can get my thoughts in line so that my suffering is less.  I CAN make a plan about HOW I want to respond.  When I start to focus on what is in my control, the relief that comes is HUGE!  Try it and let me know how it works for you.  This exercise can, in a very short amount of time, shift things dramatically!  Happy Writing!
 


Comments

Kyle Reynolds

Mon, 02 Nov 2009 01:27:01

Great site. I have learned so much myself through art. It has been a dark journey at times but I think it has helped me to become the independent person I am to date

 



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