Difficulty engaging with the exercises

No strong feelings

You might find that one or two of these exercises may not be a great fit for you, but it is important that you try each of them. Read some of the case examples on this site to see how people are often very surprised by what they find when they let themselves do these exercises fully. You may discover some uncomfortable truths about yourself in doing these exercises. Try to be nice to yourself, and if you become overwhelmed at any point, just stop and rest. If you have a history of abuse, panic or thoughts of self-harm, please schedule a session or go through these exercises with your therapist.

Some of these exercises ask you to complete a sentence. Please read the sentence-stem either aloud or silently and then let the sentence finish itself without trying to pre-think an ending. Feel free to change the sentence-stem in order to make it feel more true. Repeat the exercise over and over until you are not getting any new endings before going on to the next one.

1. Go back to an exercise you tried that fell flat for you. Try it again paying close attention to how you feel in your body. Many people will describe feeling some sort of numb feeling or will say they feel nothing. Staying with this feeling try saying, "I need to feel numb (or nothing) right now, because if I didn't..." and let the sentence finish itself without pre-thinking an ending. Keep doing this until you are getting no new endings.
When you are finished, write down some of the sentences that felt strongest.

2. Still in touch with feeling numb or nothing and remembering the exercise, try imagining yourself doing the exercise and experiencing very strong emotions. Imagine yourself crying, or extremely emotional as you do the exercise, and notice what feels unwelcome about this reality. Spend some time with this experience before moving on.
Write down what you learn.

3. Now as you still picture yourself feeling extrmemly emotional, try saying, "If can't let myself do that because..." and let the sentence finish itself.
Keep doing this until you are getting no new endings.
When you are finished, write down some of the sentences that felt strongest.

By this point, many people will feel like they have found a part of themselves that they did not know existed. It is important not to turn this part of yourself into an enemy, but rather make it into a friend. You can do this by not trying to change it. Instead just accept it and let it be true. You should also spend some time each day reading over what you have learned about yourself. Many people will feel a strong need to have someone with whom to share this new truth. You can tell a trusted friend, a support group or schedule a session with a therapist.

If you would like to share your emotional truth with others, you can enter it into the form below. Offerings will be posted within 48 hours. If you would like to donate to PsychResources.net, click here.

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copyright © 2007 Coherence Counseling, MA. Last updated 31March2007.