understanding your emotions
means you can trace them back
to the thoughts behind them
seeing the thoughts clearly
means you can examine them
analyze them, find the cognitive distortions
challenge them, counter them
and see your emotions follow
into healthier and better places
just because you think it
doesn’t mean it’s true
just because you feel it
doesn’t mean it’s real
or accurate
own the fact
that you could be wrong
quotemadness:
“You will never be free until you free yourself from the prison of your own false thoughts.”
— Philip Arnold
this is the task
this is the key challenge
this is life
or misery
this is the path
walk it
ruthlessly
relentlessly
unapologetically
observing, identifying
challenging, countering thoughts
as you see the distortions
make your mind
your servant
feelings
are hormones
released into your bloodstream
by your body, your subconscious
in response to your thoughts
which your subconscious
cannot analyze or
accurately judge
to distinguish
between reality
and distorted perceptions
your mind makes things real
for you
be careful what you think
unquestioned, unchallenged thoughts
with cognitive distortions
will mess you up severely
your mind
fills with
amplifies
creates
more of
whatever
you focus on
and gradually shrinks everything else
into oblivion
it starts and ends
with owning yourself
your feelings, your experience
no one makes you mad
no one makes you happy
your thoughts lead to your feelings
conscious, acknowledged, or not
change your thinking and
you change your feelings
let your feelings tell you
there’s something to accept
something to understand
something to respond to
rationally, effectively
don’t get in them
don’t chase the rabbits
find the attachment
and sever it, let it go
“Other people’s opinion of you does not have to become your reality.”
— Unknown
accept that their opinion
is driven by their perception
which is colored by all
their past experiences
processed or not
and isn’t necessarily
about you at all
“Love didn’t hurt you. Someone who doesn’t know how to love you hurt you. Don’t confuse the two.”
— Unknown
understand
that you chose
your torturer
your attacker
you didn’t know
what you didn’t know
but their issues
aren’t everyone’s issues
let each person
show you who they are
without hanging your past on them
yesterday
isn’t real
it’s just memories
filtered through
your cognitive distortions
never accurate
or objective
but sometimes helpful
for providing opportunities
for understanding and growth
what choices you made
mistakes or successes
don’t define you
learn and move on
