Believe that you have control over your thoughts

 

Exercise:

You will need assistance from a trusted friend to help you do the following exercise. Please allow that person to slowly read the following to you.

 

Sit comfortably in your chair and relax. When comfortable, please close your eyes. Feel the weight of yourself rest deeply in the chair and take some slow, deep breaths relaxing even more deeply with each exhalation.

Now, picture an image of a young girl swinging on a swing hanging from a large tree branch. It is a beautiful day with a bright blue sky with fluffy clouds and a lovely field all around. She is wearing a pink dress, with folded down white ankle socks and patent leather shoes. She is singing a child’s tune and appears perfectly content. Think about how this image makes you feel.

Now wipe that away and picture yourself standing on a wooden bridge that crosses a small stream. You are holding the railing and looking below as the water rushes under your feet and you see an occasional leaf being swept up in the current as it flows by downstream and disappears in the distance. Think about how this image makes you feel.

Now wipe that away and picture two ping pong paddles crisscrossed over a ping pong ball on a ping pong table. Think about how this image makes you feel.

Now, when you are ready, please open your eyes.

 

Were you able to envision these scenarios?

Were you able to switch from one thought to the next?

Were there any associated feelings about any of the images?

Do you have choice over what you think about?