I really enjoyed this piece recently where the author talks about our use of words, both in how we talk to ourselves and with others. They can make a real difference. Do your words harm you or heal you, do you think? How can we learn to rephrase things so it helps us and others feel better? Worth a thought. Read the article here:
Words that Can Heal in Turbulent Times
I liked this view of influencing our own days and reframing all the anxiety we have at the moment with what’s going on in the world:
We can only hope to influence the big stuff by joining together to address our concerns. For example, by giving to charities, and/or by joining groups campaigning for environmental protections, economic justice, improvements in public health and the defence of human rights. These activities allow us to contribute our small part to bigger causes.
Positive Health
As individuals, we have unique power over the qualitative experience of our own days. That begins with the power of our words, both the ones we say to ourselves and the ones we say to others….
What can ‘just words’ achieve, in this environment? They can improve the quality of our days, and the days of those around us. They can enable us to increase the behaviour we want from others in ways that make them feel good about themselves. And, very importantly, they can counter the self-critical words which might paralyse us in the face of problems that are not our fault. It is not ‘poor budgeting’ if you can’t make ends meet when prices have risen and your income hasn’t.
I notice, too, that the author mentions the 5 year technique. I use this a lot both personally and with patients.
Take a problem that’s really getting to you, project yourself forward and look back at it from 5, 10, 50 years, whatever. How does it look now?
Not so important, is it? Let it go; in the end, it is not likely to be as big a deal as it feels at the moment. As I used to say when I taught my Sparkle programme in the stress session: ‘we’re all going to die anyway!’ I mean, how liberating is that if you look at it from that perspective! It was always a shocker of a statement, but effective when you think about it!
Hope you enjoyed that thought for the day 😉