I have lately found myself in a horrible nightmare while wide awake and going about my ordinary day. I imagine myself doing the same tasks after the election and after Barack Obama is denied the presidency. It would be 2000 x 10, 2004 x 100. The idea is so painful and frightening to me that I attempt to block these thoughts out and may soon have to resort to mind altering solutions. My fear rises in my blood like a rolling tide, threatening my sanity. However, I am saved. Relief is here. I received an interesting and uplifting email yesterday. I wrote the author and got permission to post the text in it's entirety.
here's a affirming idea...
Subject: Cognitive Restructuring of Election Depression
Sanity Returns!!
Well....at this point, why not? I am tired of feeling anxious and angry
about these doofuses! So I am going to take this suggestion and say to
myself (at least) three times daily: 'President Obama.....ahhhhh'
Let me know if you decide to do this and what the result is!
To all my friends who have had enough --
I want to make two specific requests (discussion follows):
- 3 times a day (more is better) I suggest you say or just think to yourself 'President Obama' and when you do to imagine it being true
right now and feeling all the great feelings that go with this thought.
- Please forward this email to all your friends who you know for a
fact are voting for Obama and will be thrilled when he wins, encouraging
them to send it on to their friends.
Discussion:
It dawned on me that many of us are getting caught in the fear orgy the
Republicans love to create because most of their policies are based in
fear. They even fail to recognize that the opposite of fear is not hope
but trust and expectation. So eliminating fear requires practicing trust
and expectation. Fearing the Republicans is just more fear and feeds
their cause. They want us to be afraid, even if all we're afraid of is
them. I don't expect us to never experience fearful thoughts, but when we
notice that we are would be a good time to think 'President Obama' and
experience the pleasure that this reality brings.
When I first thought of this I anticipated that some, me included, would
react with, 'well just thinking about it won't do it. Way too
'airy-fairy' What we need is to be in action.' Interesting thought, but
aligning our thoughts with what we want never hurts and imagining what we
want never precludes getting into action. In fact, imagining 'President
Obama' is more likely to inspire those actions that will create this
wonderful outcome. Not to mention, if a whole bunch of us are feeling
good, instead of afraid, resigned and helpless, then we will probably get
a whole lot more done. Practice this thought and notice that it makes you
feel good and certainly more resourceful. The decision to send this email
came to me last night after deciding to practice this thought myself
yesterday. 'President Obama' Aaaaah. Happy and relieved. Like taking off
a shoe that's too tight (or in this case, maybe a noose).
I did the math and if each of sends this to ten others and only five send
it on then in 13 rounds this email will reach over 244 Million people.
Probably less because of repeats. If we send it to more and let's say 10
send it on then in 9 rounds 1 Billion emails will be sent. Staggering and
no-one is asking you to send any money anywhere or informing you that you
have inherited money from a long lost relative.
When I first heard Barack Obama speak in 2004 at the convention, I
thought 'This man could be President someday.' I like many others am
inspired by him and know that behind his inspiring words is a strong,
thoughtful and courageous intelligence. Let's join together to make
'President Obama' (Aaaaaah) a reality by imagining together that it
already is.
Thanks for your help.
Alan Konell, M.S.W.
Trust and expectation describes my impressions of Barack Obama exactly. I am using Alan's idea now. As a strong pragmatic and a believer in action to solve any crisis I am not sitting on my rear and dreamily thinking Sen. Obama will reside in the White House. I am also working towards not only his election to office but a few other local Democrats as well. I don't have extra income to contribute but I do have some extra time and lots of effort to give. Thinking this positve thought has lowered my blood pressure and calmed my mind as it races off to Dante's Hell and jumps off the cliff into the fire. I hope lots of you will begin now to say to yourself, "President Obama, ahhhh" as many times as possible. As you lay your weary, election exhausted body down on the sheets you don't have time to change, think "President Obama, ahhhh." Brushing your teeth, not quite as long as you should because you are trying to gain an hour in the day to phone bank, think "President Obama, ahhhh." McCain/ Palin intruding on your tv time? "President Obama, ahhhh". I am printing the phrase up and posting it around my house to remind me to say it and so even my family will read it, think it, say it." We need a tsunami of energy to inundate our universe, calm our fears, push us over the top.
Yes we can!!!!