In my last blog, physical balance of self-care in relation to Substance Abuse Recovery was discussed. Today let's talk about mental self-care as a part of the six areas of balance. How often to you check in with your mind and your thoughts? Are you a positive or a negative thinker? Do you believe that you have a choice to change your thoughts? Are your thoughts working for you are against you? As you thought about each of these questions, hopefully, you are aware that you have the power and the choice to change the way you think. You are responsible for your thoughts. Certainly there are people from the past who have influenced the way you think and there are people today who may still influence your thoughts. You, however, have the power to choose whether or not you are influenced. One of the first things to consider, is experimenting with challenging your thoughts and taking back some of your personal power. How willing are you? I find it helpful to think of the brain as a computer that has been programmed. You have done the programming and you can choose to reprogram your thinking. Certainly people have been influenced the programming, however, you alone choose to keep the negative programs running. So, choose today to make a different choice and put boundaries around those thoughts. Ralph Waldo Emerson said: "People only see what they are prepared to see." Or Robertson Davis said: The eyes see only what the mind is prepared to comprehend." Are you stuck in a self-limiting belief system because of this? In our Substance Abuse Recovery and Life Skills Group, we address this and it is a start. Have you worked with Affirmations? This is a way to start reprogramming the brain. However, if you really want to challenge your belief system attend a Personal Development Seminar offered by TurningLeaf. The Level I Seminar is a part of the Intensive Outpatient program and will help anyone start to identify self-limiting beliefs and thoughts and begin to think and be more positive and loving. You can improve your life in so many ways and it is my joy to see people make positive changes in their thoughts and actions. Do not doubt, you can do it. As stated by William Shakespeare: "Our doubts are traitors and make us lose the good we oft might win by fearing to attempt". We are here to show you ways to take back your personal power and live a more fulfilled and joyful life.
Sue Judd, MSS, LSAC
Licensed Substance Abuse Counselor
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