ACCEPTANCE AND COMMITMENT THERAPY (ACT) – AN ONLINE RESOURCE
Q: How can I cope with turbulent events?
A: See them from the viewpoint of Self as Context
The concept of “Self as Context” can be difficult to understand. We are so used to thinking of ourselves as just who we think we are, a composite of complicated thoughts and feelings, that trying to get a handle of ourselves as something bigger, something more, is really challenging.
And yet we are something more. There is more to us than our thoughts and our feelings. Thoughts and feelings come and go but we are still here. We were here at the beginning and we will be there at the end. There is a part of us that is nothing to do with the thinking mind, there is a part of us that is pure awareness. The more time we spend with that part of us the more expanded we become, and not in the physical sense!
How do we do that? Well we do have a key. The key that opens the door to Self as Context is Mindfulness. Mindfulness is integral to ACT and ACT is integral to Mindfulness. The more we develop our Mindfulness Skills the more adept we will become in the developing the psychological flexibility that lies at the heart of ACT. The two go together.
I wrote “SELF AS CONTEXT” to remind me of that.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
- Are you making Mindfulness a part of your life?
- Are you able to get a sense of yourself as “Self as Context“?
- What can you share that might be of help to others?
Please leave your comments. I would love to hear from you.
THOUGHT FOR TODAY
POEM FOR TODAY
SELF AS CONTEXT
At times of great upheaval when we’re feeling turned and tossed
It is hard to be accepting of a something that we’ve lost,
And when the world outside our window seems a strange and foreign place
Then these times of great upheaval can be difficult to face.
It may be at such a moment we should strive to solace find,
Maybe focus on the breath to give some respite to the mind,
And begin to stretch awareness, bring our senses into play,
We are more than just our thoughts so let’s explore that more today.
Let us see our Self as Context, like the ocean, like the sky,
View these turbulent events as waves and clouds just passing by,
Whilst we’ll still be here tomorrow, as we were just yesterday,
Such a focus isn’t easy but it can be ours today
If we see our Self as constant, the I am who will remain
When the storm has done its worst and we’ve survived the hurricane,
For though events may come to shake us they are only temporary,
And if we see our Self as Context, they’re just waves whilst we’re the sea.
© Corinne Shields, 2016
If you enjoyed, “SELF AS CONTEXT” please pass it on, and do leave your comments. I would love to hear from you.
And just before you go …..
A final word from ACT …..
For a very clear overview of ACT and Mindfulness you might like to head over to getselfhelp.co.uk.
There is a very good section on Mindfulness of Emotions which I found particularly helpful. It reminds us that:
“We often start to learn mindfulness skills by focusing our attention on our breath, our bodies, the environment or activities. We can practice being mindful, and eventually, we can learn to start being mindful of emotions.
Being mindful of emotions helps us to stand back from the emotion, understand it, accept it, not to fear it or struggle against it, and it can have the added benefit of reducing the distress (although the aim is to learn to accept the experience, rather than lessen the distress.”
What follows is a suggestion for how to explore emotions mindfully.
Turbulent events trigger turbulent emotions. Learning to deal with them more skilfully can only be a good thing. Mindfulness offers us that alternative.
ACTivation Point!
SO ……………………….
How about YOU?
What can YOU do just for today to ACTivate your life?
Just for today I will ………………………
If you have read this far, please do leave your comments. How is ACT helping you?
I am a student of ACT. I am on a journey. I would love you to join me.
With all good wishes
Corinne