Therapists often get too involved in theory. We make things more complicated than they need to be. We tend to overthink things. It is easy to come to the conclusion that the world is full of difficult problems.
Sometimes the simplest things are the best. Your mind pays twice as much attention to negative things as it does to positive things. This is the mechanism behind gloomy thinking, pessimism and depression. Because of that, we all need to focus twice as much on the positive events in our life. Every day, make sure you see the good as well as the bad.
Three positive things to make you feel better
One of the great things we can do for clients is to give them simple rules that they can use to improve their lives. There is one simple habit that really works. Encourage the client to write down at the end of every day three things that happened to them that were good.
These do not have to be super wonderful things, anything will do. For example, seeing a lovely flower display, getting to the bus stop just as the bus arrives, a kind act by someone at work - anything. When you look out for the three things it makes you more aware of all the good things that actually happen in your life.
The simple act of writing down three positive things seems to impress them on the brain. People who do write down the three positive things become more resilient. You get a more cheerful attitude after only a few days. And doing it for longer makes it automatic. You will learn to focus on the positive.
What do you think?
Have you tried this? What ways do you use to cheer up your clients?