The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University
The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University
The Healthy Management of Reality - Stanford University
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If you are feeling down or depressed, then the task is to build in someislands <strong>of</strong> peace and tranquility, or <strong>of</strong> rewarding activities into your days. Peoplewho are depressed <strong>of</strong>ten talk about their days as being full <strong>of</strong> oppressive darkness.An image that is sometimes helpful is that <strong>of</strong> creating islands <strong>of</strong> light in the middle<strong>of</strong> the darkness. <strong>The</strong>se areas <strong>of</strong> light gradually increase in number, until each dayhas some periods <strong>of</strong> time to look forward to. As progress continues, the periods <strong>of</strong>light become the dominant part <strong>of</strong> the day, and fewer and fewer hours during theday contain the darkness <strong>of</strong> depression. To accomplish this, we help the patientdevelop a list <strong>of</strong> activities that he or she finds pleasant (or found pleasant in thepast). <strong>The</strong>n we encourage the patient to schedule these activities throughout theday. Obviously, to be practical, most <strong>of</strong> the activities have to be brief enough to beable to do quickly and unobtrusively. If you do not have money, the activities haveto be free or inexpensive. If you are sick or disabled, the activities have to bethings that are possible given any physical limitations imposed by the illness ordisability.<strong>The</strong> conscious shaping <strong>of</strong> one’s day is one <strong>of</strong> the most practical ways <strong>of</strong>shaping one’s reality, and one’s life. Time is one <strong>of</strong> those resources that, onceused, cannot be replaced. <strong>The</strong>refore, it is important that it be used mindfully.SpaceWhere we spend our time determines the part <strong>of</strong> reality that we will allow tohave impact on us. Our reality changes radically depending on whether we enteran environment that will be supportive or draining, an environment that willexpose us to energizing stimuli or oppressive stimuli. Becoming mindful <strong>of</strong> wherewe choose to be will help determine the shape <strong>of</strong> our external reality.HMOR.July2005.Muñoz.doc 88