What would your friend say about you? Words of a friend or your own worst enemy?

It helps to externalize and address your core thoughts, attitudes and beliefs about your self and the world by writing them down. Writing down your thoughts slows down the process and gives you greater success in catching yourself when you start beating yourself up and challenging some of those not so encouraging core beliefs. It is often the way you “Should” yourself, the way you put yourself down with harsh words. Stop “Shoud-ing” yourself! Harsh words lead to harsh actions which also become fuel for the fire of depression, anxiety and addiction.

Some people say, “So I put myself down a lot… so what?” and then I might say as their therapist “Is that in your highest interest?” or “In what way can you now motivate yourself that is more gentle, versus being brutal?" which is just blah, blah, blah to some folks.

Then I might ask “What would you do if your (so called) best friend spoke to you in that way?” What if your “best friend” who you spent most of your time with kept beating you up emotionally, putting you down, taking every opportunity to take a strip off of you, leading you to feel pretty bad about yourself. Is this the behaviour of a best friend? This is more the behaviour of your worst foe than your best friend. You would probably leave and fire your friend?!?

Then I might ask, what would you say to your most beloved child or grandchild, niece, nephew etc. who is just learning to walk for the first time? Would you do everything you could to encourage this precious being? Or, would you prefer if you or someone else did everything they could to trip them up to hit the floor where they would never want to take the chance of learning to walk again???

Being gentle is not the only way... but it is one of the better ways. Recovery is like learning to stand on your own two feet and begin your journey. It takes courage and encouragement to go day by day. Find ways and folks who do encourage you to take those bold strides. You are doing it!!! Keep going and the walk does become easier, especially with a little encouragement.

Best of health and warmest regards, Paul Radkowski

info@liferecoveryprogram.com
http://liferecoveryprogram.com/