First, read parts ONE and TWO…
If you are serious about changing your thought patterns, give this exercise a try…
1. First, have your list of affirming thoughts ready, plus any other calming activities or skills you have, like deep breathing, a picture or visualization, etc…
2. Use the negative thoughts to work yourself up to a state of anxiety. On a scale of 1-10, go to a 3.
3. Then use the positive list and other skills to bring yourself to a calm place…until you feel you’re at a 0 on that scale.
4. Work yourself back up…and down…up…and down…until you feel you can have control over your emotional state by the power of your thoughts.
5. Repeat as often as necessary. Then start working yourself up to a 5-6 on that scale…and back down. The idea is to learn the skill of regulating your emotions when you are in that anxious state. Even though it’s a created anxious state, it’s like practising an Olympic race by racing against your friends.