Sometimes when I sit with clients, I get caught up in the storm of their thoughts and suddenly we are both swimming in anxiety.  They convince me that this is the only way it is; there really is no hope; they've tried everything; they are victims of life.  Yikes.  I buy into it and I become disempowered and helpless.  And then I realize that I'm hooked.  Oops.  I cannot throw out a life preserver when I, too, am drowning.

I ask us to step back.  I call attention to what is happening.  "Your mind is having these thoughts.  If you let these thoughts dictate your next steps, where will you end up?"  Hmmm.  "Take a breath.  Let's examine these thoughts that have been put forth as if we're scientists."  Pause.  "Let's root ourselves and take an objective look at these sentences that your mind has manufactured."

Often the thoughts put out are not from the part of the brain that has our highest self in mind, the prefrontal cortex.  The quality of the thoughts being offered is of a low standard, one which runs on autopilot from the lower brain, which has trouble with impulse control and wants pleasure now at any cost.

It is easy to get hooked.  It takes conscious effort to be aware that you're hooked and to step back and unhook.  It's well worth the effort though.

Until next time,