Chances are we all have used velcro tape over the course of our lives. We know from experience the more it gets used, the less effective it becomes. Over time Velcro tape loses its ability to possess any adhesion properties and becomes useless.
Disturbing thoughts like, “I’m worthless,” or “I’m stupid” enter our awareness. Thoughts like, “this will never change” or “You can’t do that” or “everyone will think I’m crazy” will appear. Another way to identify a Velcro thought would be characterized as the ones that keep you awake at night.
When you experience a Velcro thought, notice all the negative emotions that go along with them. Then ask yourself, “is what I am thinking 100% true? Is it a guarantee?” If you are honest the only answer you can give is, ‘’No,” because nothing is ever guaranteed. Nothing is never or always.
At this point, take a few moments to allow the answer be experienced and felt inside your body. Take it of the hamster wheel of your brain and gently allow “No” bump into ‘’Oh yes, I can.” Within a few short moments you will not miss the immediate physical and emotional relief that will occur. You will notice each time you allow “No” physically and experientially enter your body, relief will follow. Just like Velcro tape, those sticky pesky and persistent thoughts will lose their ability to hook you into the negative feelings that follow. Gradually over time, you will decrease the amount of emotional energy you have invested in them. They may continue to show up, but that really won’t matter to you. They simply will not bother you.
Realize that Velcro thoughts are persistent and they do not give up easily. However, you have the ability to be just as persistent with your response to them. Simply keep asking yourself over and over again if what you are thinking is an absolute truth, is it a guarantee? Any thought that cannot be deemed as an absolute truth is no longer a fact. They become merely feelings or opinions. Feelings and opinions are not facts. Facts have no exceptions.
As Velcro tape loses it adhesion properties with repeated use, you too will find yourself spending less and less time believing your disturbing, scary, or pesky Velcro thoughts. I urge you to utilize this tool with great regularity. The only result you will experience is emotional and physical relief. You will simply lose interest in disturbing thoughts and ideas.
As for me personally, I owe a lot to Velcro tape. It taught me that nothing is forever, and everything changes over time. I am no exception to this rule and neither are you.
