Negative thoughts pop up and we respond...
What would add to this list?
Negative thought
- I'm not enough
- I don't have enough
- I need to fight for everything I need/want
- I am not allowed to mess up
- Mistakes have long lasting bad consequences
- I can't let people really know me
- Anytime I can be exposed as a fraud
- I need to defend myself
Fear response
- I won't try for that new position
- So I can't be generous
- I can't let others succeed, life is cutthroat
- I need to be in control of myself at all times
- Be very slow to make decisions, don't take risks
- If people really knew me I would be rejected
- I will be quiet at meetings and groups so I'm not exposed
- I cannot allow criticism or any negative feedback
A woman had dealt with
deep depression that started when her father suicided.
It had happened over 10 years previous to us meeting. In a suicide note her dad had blamed her. She could rationalize that his choice was not her fault, yet since she didn't have an answer for the question he asked in his last communication, an answer that would settle her mind, in her heart she couldn't answer the accusation. The guilt was debilitating.
She had tried several interventions over the years, with some temporary relief. But the heavy burden and the accompanying depression always returned.
We talked for about 30 minutes and she became aware of the answer. The truth had been hiding under the guilt. Once she saw it everything changed. She was free, completely free from the dark cloud that consumed her.
Truth is powerful.
It was a messy divorce
He was needing to make important decisions for his kids welfare.
He was confused by what he knew he needed to do to protect his children and the fear of guilt that he was depriving his wife. He could think about little else. Every time he was close to making the decision he wanted to make, the one he felt he needed to make, doubts and accusations crept in.
A few days after one particularly meaningful session he reported back-everything had become crystal clear. His perception of the situation had changed. He knew exactly what he needed to do and he was prepared to do it. With complete conviction, he was no longer subject to the invading negative thoughts.
Our perception is powerful
The story he told himself was
he was a failure.
In the absence of knowing what is true we choose how to see it.
We give it meaning
The meaning we give it is our choice
Our choice is powerful
Negative thoughts pop up and we respond...
What would add to this list?
Negative thought
- I'm not enough
- I don't have enough
- I need to fight for everything I need/want
- I am not allowed to mess up
- Mistakes have long lasting bad consequences
- I can't let people really know me
- Anytime I can be exposed as a fraud
- I need to defend myself
Fear response
- I won't try for that new position
- So I can't be generous
- I can't let others succeed, life is cutthroat
- I need to be in control of myself at all times
- Be very slow to make decisions, don't take risks
- If people really knew me I would be rejected
- I will be quiet at meetings and groups so I'm not exposed
- I cannot allow criticism or any negative feedback
A woman had dealt with
deep depression that started when her father suicided.
It had happened over 10 years previous to us meeting. In a suicide note her dad had blamed her. She could rationalize that his choice was not her fault, yet since she didn't have an answer for the question he asked in his last communication, an answer that would settle her mind, in her heart she couldn't answer the accusation. The guilt was debilitating.
She had tried several interventions over the years, with some temporary relief. But the heavy burden and the accompanying depression always returned.
We talked for about 30 minutes and she became aware of the answer. The truth had been hiding under the guilt. Once she saw it everything changed. She was free, completely free from the dark cloud that consumed her.
Truth is powerful.
It was a messy divorce
He was needing to make important decisions for his kids welfare.
He was confused by what he knew he needed to do to protect his children and the fear of guilt that he was depriving his wife. He could think about little else. Every time he was close to making the decision he wanted to make, the one he felt he needed to make, doubts and accusations crept in.
A few days after one particularly meaningful session he reported back-everything had become crystal clear. His perception of the situation had changed. He knew exactly what he needed to do and he was prepared to do it. With complete conviction, he was no longer subject to the invading negative thoughts.
Our perception is powerful
The story he told himself was
he was a failure.
In the absence of knowing what is true we choose how to see it.
We give it meaning
The meaning we give it is our choice
Our choice is powerful
Copyright Linda Gall
