Truths

One of the techniques I have learnt for dealing with negative thoughts is described in the poem below;

The idea is that you hold a picture of a stream in your mind and allow leaves to fall on to the water and drift downstream. As each leaf passes you imagine placing a troublesome thought on it and watch the leaf and the thought drift away. Sometimes the leaves stick for a while as if caught in a small eddy, but eventually they will slip onward along with the water and from your mind.

This technique has often helped me to reverse a slide into depression. I will not lie, it takes practice, but it does work.

It helps if you know that; Thoughts are not Facts. You are probably thinking; ‘what is this guy on?’ but think about it. You can worry about a negative, unhelpful or harmful thought and end up so stressed that physical changes occur in your body. Alternatively you could think rationally about how to deal with the problem and reduce the impact on your body. You might also be able to think about something different and avoid getting wound up completely. (This is not the best approach if something has to be done.)

Consider this example; “I think I have Cancer.” Now think that over and over again and you are going to end up worried. Now try “I don’t like the look of that lump, it’s probably nothing but I better go to the doctor and have it checked.” The third approach ‘Time for another Ice-Cream”, is not particularly helpful in this instance. By changing from the first thought to the second thought your stress levels are much more likely to be lower and you end up getting a diagnosis. Remember; Thoughts are NOT facts. Now for the poem;

Truths

Chrystal clear water glides past,
gentle eddies swirl,
light dances,
constant, beautiful.

A leaf falls,
laden with a thought,
it drifts, rocking,
twisting, bobbing,
carrying its load onwards.

Watching the stream
leaves slip past;
the mind returns to the water,
clear and calm.

Sometimes a leaf catches
its thought fused,
holding the mind,
stopping the flow,
obscuring the truth.

Let the leaf go,
note the difference
between a thought and having a thought,
and you’ll realise;
thoughts aren’t facts.

John Carré Buchanan
11 December 2010