Focus on The Good

@JoyfulUnicorn

Thank you for posting this! As hard as it sounds, I know focusing on the positives and finding hope or growth in every bad situation I'm thrown in is very important and this forum post is going to inspire my next journal prompt. :) Take care Joyful!

Hi Joy (you have chosen a wonderful username btw), I am brand new to this section/sub-community. This is my first post here. I think I was here a while back (few months) or maybe that was in the 'addiction support' sub-com. I am certainly not new to 7cupsoftea as a whole - having joined as a member at the end of 2015! I'm not sure how this sub-com might fit the struggles I fight with, but I hope perhaps it will be more active and my 'main' listener here :) and I can work on translating SH-help ideas into the area I try to fight everyday. I'm not sure how well it will match up or if I, Platy, will be able to see the matching up on my own... make sense?

Anyhow, your post stood out to me quickly as READ ME, like READ ME NOW, even though it is very late here right now. I've copied the questions into another program so that I can access them offline. I appreciate your explanation of here ___________ are questions for you. you may think about them, or write two or seven, or "just" think more. (You explained it better haha) But I think you meant to take the pressure off from it. For those who may see it as an assignment or task to be completed (example: must have answer for every one, must have beautiful list of 10 per question.) You've allowed those perfectionistic traits (in me anyway) to just chill out and let me think. That is very good.

Oh, also, once I figured out the more details of this post, it has reminded me of a question I was asked not long ago. My case manager was attempting to get my "Yearly Treatment Plan" (all bow to the mighty treatment plan ... NOT) updated and filled out - with me = good, on the phone = bad! One of the first questions is: In the client's own words (that's me), what are their personal strengths and successes in accomplishing goals? Joy? This is a hard question for me when I AM expecting to hear it, or even prepared with an answer.

I know this has nothing to do with self-harm stuff ... but your comments on noticing the positive, on picking out the perhaps 'one small thing that I guess was good today,' etc. are encouraging to me. Even if someone else 'has to' notice the GOOD and then I agree.

A while ago (like a couple of years now I think), I filled some small sized journals with "Today I am thankful for..." I've heard since (I stopped that practice maybe 2 or 3? years ago) via the DJs on my favorite radio station or maybe on a YouTube message.... that ... "A person cannot feel anxious AND focus on gratitude at the same time." Like it messes with your brain. While I know this is not the anxiety support area, I think for me SH comes as an idea much more of the time if I am feeling anxious. Intense high emotion (for me anxiety can become overwhelming quickly) is really hard to deal with, though I'm learning.

Okay this is really long. I'll end now. and tomorrow (well, today since it is well past midnight) I'd like to work in some time to work on thinking about, and then writing down some responses to Section 1, Section 2, and Section 3.

And, btw, your small/short examples within the writing prompts? I think they may prove to be very helpful. Thanks, Joy. I will let you know how it goes. ~ Platy

@JoyfulUnicorn @rebecca947 @Anomalia I miss you my pinkfluffyunicorn. Pineapple? I miss you too. And @rosyoctopus I've not forgotten about you! Write me? :) 7cups is a pretty great site, ya know? oh yes, and definitely Hi @moj :) ((sending hugs to all who'd like some!!! hugs hugs hugs))