The Thoughtful Circle

Cognitive behavioral therapy provided us with insight into the importance of our internal thought life and how thoughts dictate emotions which in turn dictate our interactions with ourselves and others which on a larger scale has an enormous impact on the course of our lives.  So really, our thinking is one of the most powerful navigation tools that we have access to in charting the course for our lives.  This information has been around a long time - going back all the way to Epictetus (55-135 AD), the ancient philosopher and father of the concept that our thoughts influence our emotions and subsequent behavior.  Here is how it works:

 

Now, here is the piece that is so cool- we can exponentially increase the power of this cycle in order to live positively and with joy.  And here is the catch- we also have the potential to lack awareness of this cycle and it can randomly bounce from constructive to destructive- or at its most devastating level it can become negative and toxic to ourselves at not only an emotional level but on every level physically, cognitively, and spiritually.

It is within our power to decide to live with joy and positive intention.

By using self-awareness tools such as the Enneagram, we become aware of our potential blind spots and gifts in our thinking.  We can use our personal wisdom and vision to dictate our thoughts which will then generate feelings of emotional blessings and gratitude- which are far more powerful than knee jerk emotional reactions.  Instead we will choose thoughtful and wise responses that are congruent with our emotional blessings.  This in turn will create situations which are full of the opportunity for potential and growth and health at every level which vastly improves our lives and consequently the lives of those around us.  And so it begins to look like this:

 

 

And the cycle continues- whichever way you spin it- the choice is yours.  We don't have choices about many things in our life, but this is one very powerful piece where we do have the ability to make a difference.

- Anne Lewis Moore, PsyD
(Sandy Springs Psychotherapy - soon to be Atlanta Center for Positive Change)