The Wellness Lawyer: “Awakening the Sun”

I recently read about an interesting concept about reframing one’s point of view.

It stated that if you wake up with the sun, you are still asleep. However if you awaken the sun, then you are truly awake.

I had to read it a few times to actually understand its meaning. Finally, I realized that what this means, is that the way our day develops is completely up to us.

For example, if we set an intention for the day to unfold in a calm and peaceful manner, knowing that we are fully capable of dealing with whatever challenges may arise, then we are setting ourselves up for success no matter what the day brings our way. Thus we awaken the sun and the positivity of the day. We are no longer dependant on whether the sun is actually shining or whether the day is unfolding in our favor. We are the masters of our day and we are the ones awakening the sun to shine in every aspect of our daily lives.

Experts call this cognitive reframing.

Cognitive Reframing

It is beyond the scope of this article to discuss in detail how cognitive reframing works. However I want to provide some insight into this technique as well as some resources for you to read if the idea resonates with you.

According to experts, cognitive reframing involves:

a) learning to recognize the thoughts that are causing a negative outlook
b) finding evidence to discredit the thought
c) and then replacing the negative thought with a more realistic one

For example, if a person is asked to see their boss, the person may think: “Oh I am getting fired.” As soon as the negative thought enters the person’s mind, they may feel the physical sensations of fear, dread, sadness and the rest of the day becomes a downward spiral into the depths of despair.

The negative thought usually comes so quickly that it’s impossible to detect when it actually arrives. By the time we recognize that the negative thought is here, the body is already reacting with physical sensation.

In reality, a meeting with the boss may end up being a simple discussion about a file or a client, but the uninvited negative thought, results in catastrophic scenarios where the person imagines ending up homeless on the street.

We are innately wired to remember negative things and to think negative thoughts as a protective mechanism. If you touch a hot stovetop you will remember the feeling and will unlikely do this again.

So we need to retrain our brains to stop the negative thoughts from spiraling into fearful scenarios. That is why cognitive reframing may be very helpful in these situations.

More information about cognitive reframing may be found here.

Starting Your Day With Positive Intentions

In addition to cognitive reframing, here are a few simple techniques you can use to start your day in a more positive way.

1. As soon as you open your eyes, say a few words of gratitude for a warm bed that allowed you to sleep in comfort all night.
2. Before getting out of bed, set an intention that everything you do will work out in ease.
3. When you get out of bed, put on music that you love that will put you into a positive mood as you prepare to take on your day.
4. If any negative thoughts start creeping into your mind, creating doubt with “what if” scenarios, just reframe and say to yourself, “so what, I know that I can handle anything that comes my way.” (cognitive reframing in its simplest form).
5. As you pass by a mirror, look at your reflection and say: “ I love and accept myself exactly as I am. I am going to have a wonderful day.

You may find it hard to do the above at the beginning. There is a reason why this is called a practice.

Research shows that it takes 21 days to create a habit. So I invite you to set a goal for the next 21 days to do the above steps on a daily basis and see if it resonates with you.

You may also find it harder to do number 5 as most people do not feel comfortable saying nice things to themselves. However, self acceptance is the first step in loving ourselves and working on stopping the negative critic in our minds.

When we accept ourselves unconditionally, we stop judging everything we do negatively. We learn to be kind and compassionate towards ourselves, which leads to being compassionate and kind to others.

I am always happy to help create individualized plans for wellness and stress management.

Wishing you peace and calm in all your endeavors.

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DISCLAIMER

The information in this article is not therapy, counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care/treatment, substance abuse care/ treatment, nor is it medical, psychological, mental health advice or treatment, or any other professional advice.

The information in this article is for information purposes only, and is not to be used as a substitute for therapy, counseling, psychotherapy, psychoanalysis, mental health care, medical care, or any other professional advice by legal, medical or other qualified professionals.

The information in this article shall not be recorded, copied or distributed.

If you feel that you may need medical or other professional help, please contact your doctor or call 911 if it is an emergency.