Here’s an inward-looking exercise for you.
This is not a test. It’s just a way to think about your thoughts and feelings. This exercise can also help you better communicate about how you are feeling with others. It might help you explain your story with your counselor better – or in group sessions.
Part 1 – Your Answers
Let’s take your pulse. Right now, how do you answer these questions? Yes? Or No? Your answers might reflect stress and anxiety in your life.
Mind
- Is your mind constantly racing?
- Are you worrying about issues out of your control?
- Is your inner voice constantly putting you down?
Body
- Does your body lack energy?
- Do you feel restless, moody, or annoyed?
- Are you finding it difficult to go to sleep at night?
Spirit
- Has life lost its meaning?
- Do you feel hopeless?
- Are you sad?
Social
- Do you want to be left alone?
- Do you care about other people?
- Are you clueless about what’s going on in the world?
Behavior
- Are you brushing your teeth at least once a day?
- Do you throw up at least once a day?
- Do you eat a healthy meal at least once a day?
Did you notice any area where you answered negatively to all the questions? If so, you might want to think about that area first in order to change and grow back into a healthy life in all these areas.
Part 2 – Write down how you feel
Grab a pen and paper. Free your mind. Let your thoughts flow. Write down the words and phrases that pop in your mind for each question. If you’re doing something right, acknowledge it. Remember even when you feel low, somethings can be positive.
Use these additional prompt questions to get deeper into your feelings
- Why do you feel that way?
- When did this behavior start?
- What’s causing you to act that way?
- If you’re not doing something that you should, why not?
- How would you feel if you didn’t act, feel, or behave that way?
- What can you do today that would improve this issue tomorrow?
- Is there a particular time, place, or situation that makes this feeling worse?
Part 3 – Awareness
Reread what you wrote. Do you see any nuggets of inspiration? Can you find one to three items that might help you in your journey to a healthy lifestyle in mind, body, and spirit along with your social life and behaviors?
Once you found three items that inspire you to change and grow, write them down.
Set the rest aside.
Tuck the paper with your inspirational actions in your wallet along with your dollar bills. Carry them with you. These will be your personal investment in yourself for the next 30 to 60 days.
Part 4 – You Choose
When you’re ready to move on after 30-60 days, you can choose whether to keep your original writings as a comparison or destroy them.
I vote destroy them as that was then. By now you’ve already metaphysically changed just by going through this exercise. Your answers are of your past and have no reflection on your future. I’ve been known to burn my lists in the fireplace.
You have pulled the three items that inspire you for now. Those are your areas of focus.
Part 5 – Repeat as Desired
You can repeat this as often as you like. I hope this helps you to grow into the person you want to become.
Take care and carve out time for unstructured play. You deserve it. Like the article says — Adults need recess too. Here’s why you should make time to play.
Research has shown that adults, too, have a lot to gain from the act of playing.
~ Jenny
Jenny Findling PhD, LCPC
