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Hello Reader, I love patterns! People love patterns. Humans are fascinated with finding patterns in the world around them. It's a thing. So much so that they have a word to describe it. This innate tendency to seek out patterns and impose order on the world around us is called "patternicity." Last week, I asked the question, "What if I told you there are patterns to your behavior?" Far too often, we get used to operating in a certain way, and when we try to make changes, it seems like too much. We go about trying to change external behaviors, hoping we can quit doing something or start behaving in a certain way. We might experience some initial success, but eventually, we crash and burn. Over the last few weeks, we have focused on identifying the negative patterns so we can face them and ultimately get to the root of our behaviors. Debra Fileta says that thoughts lead to feelings, which lead to behaviors. I've been challenging people in the Overflow Community to search for patterns in their negative thoughts. I never stopped to think just how difficult this process would be until I did it. The last few weeks and this process were a lot! I want to take a moment to acknowledge that. If you took the time to work through this exercise over the last week or two, bravo! π Well done! π Great job doing the hard work! If you haven't, there's never been a better time to begin the work. Now that you have done a little reflecting on your negative thoughts, who knows, you might have identified a few patterns. So, what are your next steps?
β With intentionality and effort applied over time, we can change our thoughts. β If you or someone you care about are experiencing depression or anxiety, please know you donβt have to face them alone. Check out the Overflow Community by tapping "Join the Overflow Community " below. π β
β (Note: After tapping the button, you will receive an email invitation with instructions and a link to join the community. If you have any questions, reply to this email.) β I'd love to hear how this applies to your life. Could you hit "Reply" and tell me about your story? If you would like to read more about my story, check out this link. -Craig Bookerβ β P.S. If you enjoy Overflow and want to support it, here are four ways! PICK ONE right now before you forget: 1. Forward this newsletter to a friend with an invitation to subscribe right here. β β NEW EPISODE! #055: There It Is AgainListen: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube. β Click or tap on "Listen Now" π to check out the latest episode. β
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Join a growing community learning about brain health and following Jesus.
Hello Reader, Have you ever been in a place where you couldn't face something? I βπ» surely have! Just this past week, I woke up like I usually do on a Tuesday. For some reason, a question came to mind. I do not recall why I started thinking about this question or how it came up, but it was there. A few minutes later, I began making a note on my phone. I knew this question might get lost in my morning routine, and I didn't want it to slip through my mind. After making a note of the question,...
Hello Reader, There's an old saying that says, "Time heals all wounds." While time certainly plays a crucial role in our journey, it will not heal all wounds. We cannot experience a traumatic event, circumstances, or surroundings and sweep it under the rug, hoping for it to disappear. Returning to those feelings, we often find emotions as fresh and raw as the day we left them. In last week's exercise, community members created a timeline detailing the events and circumstances that helped...
Hello Reader, I remember walking into my first session with a new psychologist. I was utterly overwhelmed with the reality of my condition. The weight of trying to white-knuckle my way through life had taken its toll. Things were not right in my world, and I had no idea where to begin. In the following visits, we would talk a lot about my past, my life growing up, and all of the stereotypical things a psychologist should talk about. What didnβt come up was how I was feeling at that moment. I...