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Many of us feel trapped in our current lives. We are doing the same things, going to the same places, eating the same food — always. We aren’t living the life we want to be living, and many times, we don’t even believe we can live the life we want to live. That’s why we need therapeutic exercises for personal growth. Below are six therapeutic exercises for personal growth.
Visualize a happy memory
Think back to a time when you were really happy. It could be something as simple as laying on the couch watching TV with your dog or playing baseball with your best friend, but whatever it is, put yourself back into that moment in time. How are you feeling? Are you smiling? Why are you smiling? How does it feel to be there? Try and get as much detail in there as possible because the more you remember, the more positive energy you’ll release.
Why Is It Important To Visualize A Happy Memory?
Visualizing a happy memory allows you to focus on the positive side of your life. If you’re feeling sad or depressed, this exercise can boost your mood and give you more motivation to do other things during the day.
When you’re feeling better about yourself, others will perceive this change as well. Your friends and family will notice how much happier you are, which will make them feel better too.
Write a list of comforting things.
Writing a list of comforting things is one of the best ways to make you feel better. Here are some creative writing ideas you can use to feel better:
- Create a dream board. Cut out images and words that represent goals, dreams, and comforting ideas. Paste them on a piece of paper or cardboard and put them somewhere where you can see them often.
- Make a worry box. Place anything that bothers you in the worry box. These are things that you need time to process or things that you have no control over. Once in the box, they can wait until you are able to work on them. A worry box is freeing and helps keep your mind from being cluttered with worries.
- Create a gratitude journal and list five things every day for which you are grateful. Listing five things each day will help you focus more on the positive aspects of life instead of all the negative ones.
Writing down your thoughts and feelings lets them out so they don’t get bottled up inside your head. There’s something cathartic about writing down your feelings – it’s like releasing them onto paper or typing them into your laptop.
Create an emotional safety plan
It is important to have an emotional safety plan in place to help you see the light at the end of the tunnel. This can be a very useful tool for those that are interested in spiritual life coaching because it can help to protect you from the emotions that others may try to trigger in you.
Taking time for yourself and learning about your triggers can be difficult, but it is also necessary if you want to make sure that you are in control of what happens around you. It is important to understand that there will be times when you will experience negative emotions, but they do not have to control your reactions.
Be your own best friend
Practice being a good friend to yourself. Treat yourself like you would treat your best friend. For example, if you were your best friend and you made a mistake, what would you say? Would you tell yourself that you are stupid or that it’s no big deal? Now think about what you usually say to yourself when you make a mistake. Is it something similar, or is it more negative? If so, try saying the same positive things to yourself that you would say to your best friend in order to be a good friend to yourself.
Express yourself creatively
How do you express yourself creatively? Writing, painting, dancing, or singing? Whatever it is, it’s key to express your thoughts and emotions in a creative way. If you’ve been feeling cooped up, try making something new and see where it takes you.
Why is it important to express yourself creatively?
You may have heard that we only use 10% of our brainpower. Well, expressing yourself creatively can help you use a bit more of that potential. It can also have a positive effect on your mental health by releasing tension and stress. No matter what the outcome of your creation, there are many benefits to expressing yourself creatively.
Give yourself credit in difficult situations.
When you show up for yourself in a difficult situation, be sure to give yourself credit. That can mean telling a friend about something you’re proud of or keeping a “Hooray!” list that includes things you did this week that are worth celebrating.
So many people have a hard time taking credit for the great things they do. They’re fast to point out their flaws and find it hard to believe that people might see them differently than they see themselves.
Our desire for personal growth can increase when we are feeling stuck in a pattern of negativity and unhappiness. These exercises may help us feel like we’re growing as a person, helping us feel less stuck in our lives and more open to new possibilities.
