The disappearing button box exercise

The first and most important step is recognizing that you have been adversely affected by having had your buttons pushed.

by Khayriyyah Savannah — 

We often hear that by changing our thinking we can change or learn to control our emotions. The phrase “he really knows how to push my buttons” is all too common. Most of us realize that our internal buttons can be pushed. The trick is getting rid of them by changing our thinking and using our imagination.

Here is a simple exercise to help you do just that. I call it my “disappearing button box” exercise. All you need is the desire to change your condition and a little determination to try. The more you do it, the better the results will be.

The first and most important step is recognizing that you have been adversely affected by having had your buttons pushed. Once you recognize that overreactions to current events have an underlying cause, you are well on your way to eliminating them.

Next, instead of searching your emotional archives for root causes, try implementing a slightly altered state of awareness. Close your eyes and visualize a button box, designed by your imagination for the express purpose of dissolving unwanted buttons. If you have trouble visualizing, just pretend.

Create this button box in your mind, and put it where you can easily and instantly access it at any time. Remember, the box will always be empty except for the current deposit, which begins to dissolve as soon as you put it in the box.

Once you close the box, let it go. This last step is very important. Trust your intention to do the rest. If a similar button appears in the future, no worries, simply repeat the process.

The act of using your imagination to actively alter the current situation will change your brain chemistry and result in a positive outcome. You have just changed your thinking and controlled your emotions.

Khayriyyah Savannah, a licensed massage therapist, is owner of Integrated Therapies for Women, which specializes in mind/body wellness. 480-544-6495.

Reprinted from AZNetNews, Volume 30, Number 3, June/July 2011.