Posted by Mark H. on May 4, 2000, at 20:21:57
In reply to Affirmations/Identifying with symptoms , posted by Janice on May 4, 2000, at 10:36:05
Dear Janice,
Yes, your second question is the central issue in my spiritual practice at this time. I want to give you a thoughtful answer (or at least open a discussion), but it will have to wait until I am a bit clearer.
Everyone's points about affirmations are well taken, yet notice that no one actually did them and said whether it made a difference or not, even as an experiment or to prove me wrong. Isn't that interesting?
I reach a point in my work sometimes that I consider hiring someone temporarily for $10 an hour out of my own pocket just to sit with me in my office and help me move from task to task -- that's all it takes sometimes, is just not to be alone with my own thoughts. I've arranged for someone who already works here to do just that tomorrow -- we'll see how it goes.
But my point is, when I practiced that affirmation years ago on my walk to work in the morning, I would get in about 600 repetitions in 20 minutes, and it would brighten my affect and break my obsessiveness. I understand that severely depressed people think they cannot focus on something even this simple for 20 minutes, but I assume that someone brought back to the middle range of "undepressed" with medication can.
Not just 20 minutes -- we waste that in the bathroom -- but how many HOURS a day do we spend thinking negative thoughts about ourselves?
I can't threaten, cajole, humor, dare, guilt-trip or trick anyone into doing this, but I believe that for most people, it will make a positive difference. If in fact it does, what would happen if we put as much energy into making our lives happy and positive as we do into, say, our self-hatred and useless fears?
I'm deeply interested in finding out whether the power of mind can turn around a biological brain disease. I suspect that it might even be possible to be profoundly physically depressed and still find joy -- but I don't yet really believe it.
For a long time, I was a witness to my depression. Then at some point I fell in, and the sense of a healthy, separate "witness" was lost. That is when I experienced despair.
I am working to strengthen the witness and increase the joy in my life. You are helping me, Janice!
Many thanks,
Mark H.
poster:Mark H.
thread:32150
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20000429/msgs/32322.html