BRIDGES TO POSITIVITY

Article: Viv Da Silva 

Have you ever heard the phrase don't burn bridges ? It is one I have always associated with people, but what if it could be applied to cluttered emotions we let fester over time? What if we could harmoniously control our emotions as they transition between positive and negative. On my journey to a healthier mind, I often feel as though I am playing wack-a-mole with my negative habits and the feelings which created the habit if reacting to myself in unkind way.

‘Building a bridge’ with our emotions is based mainly on meditation and visualisation techniques. Whenever I experiences negative feelings I picture myself on a bridge between my dark and happy experiences, first telling myself that I am okay to feel this and I begin to assess the nuances in my behaviour patterns and triggers that appear to bring me back to those feelings. This I find helpful in that whenever I notice a downfall in my mood I am able to quickly pinpoint it and combat it out. 

Using the visualisation of the bridge as a way to become a third party to my own feelings helped me realise that I had previously found it hard to come out of my  distressing moments because I didn't think I had any good moments in my life. By creating good moments such as attending a free local concert, trying a tea tree peel mask and being consistent in my hobbies I am building a stronger sense of happiness that assists me in walking along the "bridge to my positivity’’ without bashing myself for having negative feelings.