During a CoDA meeting, somebody mentioned a quote to the group. [[Like Hugging a Red Balloon Experience life and let go]]. I was still waiting for an answer when I asked the group about its origins. However, my gut feeling told me it has roots in experiencing life inside of overthinking.
💖 Become Mindful Recognizing Cognitive Distortions and Finding Balance in Life
The red balloon is similar to using the healing code. The author, Alexander Lloyd, asks the listeners a vital question. What would I do with the remaining minutes if I had a short life?
I asked, “Why am I afraid of experiencing life?”
Right off the bat, A memory of a friend popped into my mind. I don’t have to experience everything, but it played out through the mind. However, I need to keep my thoughts balanced cos I can overthink.
For example, skiing is a frill-like kissing experience.
I like to try many things, such as fresh mountain air, peacefulness, views, and travel while staying in a cabin. More so, skiing is a technique, an exciting challenge with the combinations of many benefits. Meanwhile, following my interests and experiencing life can either bring suffering or overthinking to its knees. When suffering is processed, I can focus on happiness.
Moreover, the experience can lead to the desire to prevent holding on to anything. I can continue to have these thoughts in my mind, but it would be great if I stumbled upon something exciting. Something so great that it will push me to continue to seek instead of think. One way I can seek this freedom is through peaceful meditation. I am going to my inner being and seeing what my mind has been up to.
🚀 Recognizing Distortions In My Thinking
Returning to [[Recognizing Distortions In My Thinking]], continuing to overthink my experiences can lead to suffering. While working with my therapist, she shared a unique chart that has given me the ability to catch and question my experience. The chart has five columns: emotions, situation, thoughts, re-framing, and conclusion. It’s vital to question self-worth here. Knowing that [[I Am Worth it]] and justifying my worth [[Because I Exist]]. My day is at the max, and thoughts push me to think I am insufficient. Therefore, I need to keep an eye on the ultimate balance, a slice between what is real and present and what is a thought. Spending too much time with thoughts will take me away from the present moment and create much suffering in my system.
Below, I’m sharing my cognitive distortions tool with you. Feel free to use it any way you wish. If you have any questions, feel free to ask them in the comments below. If you enjoyed the passage above, let me know via like comment, or both. 😊
| Emotions | Situation | Thoughts | Reframe The Thoughts | Conclusion |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rate Intensity 2,3,4,6 | Where were you? What was going on? | What went through your mind? Proof for and against? | Identify the distortion for each thought. | Have any of your preconceptions may have influenced thoughts |
| a | a | a | a | a |
