December: Taking an Inventory of Your Successes or, Positive Self Talk
The last month of the year can feel festive with celebrations of Hanukkah, Christmas, even national Fritter day and Eat a Red Apple day (https://www.holidayscalendar.com/).
As the month and year draw to a close, it can be a time to feel super connected to family and friends. It can also be a time of feeling disappointed and lonely and alone. Taking matters into your own hands can make this one of the most empowering months of your life.
Clinicians all over the world value the idea of “positive self-talk”. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) points out we forever tell ourselves stories to make sense of the world. For example, “that guy cut me off because he is a jerk” versus, “that guy cut me off because maybe he is on his way to save a life” versus “that guy cut me off because ….well, it’s really none of my business why he cut me off but I am going to be extra courteous to others to save them from my bad experience”
Here is an exercise for filling your life with the joy you deserve.
Find a container. Make sure it is one you like. You can buy one or find one in your home. Make sure it is a container you can close.
Get 365 pieces of paper. You don’t need the whole piece. Maybe get some scissors and cut an 8 x 11 page into 16 pieces.
Before you go to sleep every night, write down one good thing that happened.
Do it every night for one year.
You don’t live alone? Have everyone at home do it. Sure, you’ll need more paper, but that is okay.
Then, on New Year’s eve, open the container. Take out and read one piece of paper at a time. Or, take turns picking out and reading the pieces of paper.
You don’t have to do it alone. I am a licensed clinician. Contact me for a free 30 minute consultation. It does not have to stay this way. You deserve to feel heard. You deserve to feel happy. You deserve to feel safe. www.therapyfellows.com choose Individual and Family Therapy and use password Picture1925
