Exercise 1:
Changing State
Did I believe this dream or did I dream this belief?
Sometimes we can get stuck in a less than useful state. Generally speaking, a negative state is there to tell us something about what we believe. From this point of view, it’s best to stalk what belief caused the negative state you’re experiencing.
Being in a negative state is actually a good thing, however, there are times when it might be more useful or practical to shift into a more useful state.
The negative state can then be stalked from a more useful state. Left ignored, or repressed, the negative state is quite likely to come bouncing back. Work your way down the list, some might work better for you than others. Some of them are really simple, and some are more challenging. Remember, as with all things, to have fun.
- Play some of your favourite music. Sing along, or get up and dance.
- Go outside, go for a walk, or sit under a tree. Even if it's cold and wet.
- Find an animal to enjoy. Cuddle up with your pet if you have one. Try going outside and find an animal and observing it as closely as you can. A bug, a bird, anything will do.
- Go somewhere you've never been to before. The office across the hall, a new coffee shop, or a weekend away, it's your choice.
Can you remember a time when you felt really great? Remember as exactly as you can who was there, what happened, what you said, what they said, how you felt? The more detail you can remember, the better. Really build the images, sounds, smells, and feelings to make it as real as you can. How good does that feel?!
Hey, try doing that again now. The situation might be different, but with a little creative thinking, you might be able to duplicate the key points.
In your mind, give the negative state a shape, any shape will do. If it has a sound, add that in. Does it have a texture, colour or a smell? Is it hard, soft, shiny, rough, bright, dull, etc.
Once you have your image, change it a piece at a time.
For example, if “anger” is red, bright, hard, and sharp, change red to another colour, bright to something else, hard to soft, perhaps, and sharp to something else again.
Watch as the picture slowly disappears, the sound fades away, and the negative state goes with it.
