It’s about perspective.
Only you can tell the world what you see.
Only you can share who you are with the lenses you look through.
Only you can change your perspective.
I encourage you to practice this if you are suffering from any kind of pain. Write down EVERYTHING your mind is telling you that is negative. Just write, don’t judge yourself. Then, write a positive response to each and every unproductive thought you wrote down. Use mine as an example:
This is what depression would say if it could talk. And how compassion would respond it.
Each line in, Why? is directly answered in, BECAUSE. line for line.
Notice the letter “i” in Why? as opposed to “I” in BECAUSE. How we see ourselves is significant to our healing...
Why? BECAUSE. The Conflicted Mind:
Why?
i can't make sense of this world
Where do i fit in
Where is my mind taking me
To destruction of self
How can i escape
It’s all around me
No one gets out
How can they
Crazy - alone - rejected - abandoned - lost - afraid - trembling - hopeless - lifeless - worthless
Can i make it through this
Seems impossible
No quick fix
Heaviness - hurting - pain
Why did this world try to destroy me
Why can't i be like others - they make happiness and peace seem so easy to obtain
My brain doesn't want to
Or is it obsessive thoughts
Where is my energy
It’s used up by madness and meaningless negative thoughts
No solution
No way out
Then overwhelming feelings of doubt
This wont work
This won't help
Nothing i do makes sense
One day i’m ok, one day i’m not
No stability with my thoughts
No patience with my reactions
Emotions are scattered
Feelings are everywhere
How can i bring them in control
Life is hard
Why?
i have it all, right?
That’s what you tell me
That only makes me feel worse
It’s like a lining of black hot lava slowly poured over my mind, body, spirit, soul - then it hardens
i can’t see through it, my mind can't break through - the lining is too thick and i have no instruments to crack it open
Then to the abyss i sink
A revolving door of “happy” and “sad”
Always saying sorry for things i should control; my temper, my words, my pain
Feeling worse for not stopping the cycle
Hurting the ones i love the most
How can i ask for help? i keep hurting you with my depression
Why would you want to help or even be around this
It must drive you insane as well
You try so hard
Do everything
Yet because of me, your life is hurting too
The little daily tasks of life are overwhelming, making it that much worse because i can't even do the little things
How unfair to everyone around me
i hate my depression
i hate my anger
i hate my anxiety
i hate ptsd
i hate being, living, moving and trying to get out of this relentless game of troubles
It's not fair to those around me
Why?
BECAUSE.
Why you ask?
Because this world needs me - I can make sense of this world. God created me
I fit in right where I am - I don't need to be anything else
My mind wants to take me higher, love me and build me up
Escape is now
It’s all around me
There are others who get it
The world suffers too
Vibrant - well put together - accepted - found - confident - calm - hopeful - full of life - worthwhile
I can and will make it through this
With God, all things are possible
Quick is just a term
Light hearted - joyful - good
The world will not destroy me
I have happiness and peace inside me
My brain wants to thrive - that is what it was created to do
Obsessive thoughts are not forever
Energy is all around me; in the earth, water, sky, the elements, loving humankind
Peaceful and positive
Solved
There is a way out
Happy feelings of YES - life is good
It will work out
It will help
I make sense
My thoughts are stable and controllable
My reactions are well thought out
My emotions are tamed
My feelings are under control
Life is fun
BECAUSE.
I have it all, right?
That’s what you tell me
That makes me feel better
It is like a blanket of pure love poured over my body, mind and soul - it hardens but I can see through it and my mind begins to heal. I have what I need to break free
Out of the abyss I soar
A revolving door of happiness and freedom
No need for sorry - they accept me
The cycle can stop
I don't hurt anyone
They want to help me
They don't care about my depression, only me
They want to help because they love and care.
It’s normal and ok to ask and get help
They love being around me
I drive them insanely happy
They try so hard because I am their loved one
They do everything because they love me
Because of me, they are happy too
Daily tasks are just daily tasks. Nothing more. Sometimes it gets done, sometimes not - oh well
How wonderful I am to those around me
Good-bye depression
Good-bye anxiety
Good-bye anger
Good-bye ptsd
I love being, living, moving and loving life
Those around me I can count on, always
BECAUSE.
Believe in yourself. You are not alone. Giving up cannot be an option for you.
Lindsy Brewer
