Understand that thoughts are thoughts. If they are unreasonable, reason with them, even if you have no reason left. You are the observer of your mind, not its victim.
Interpretation
Thoughts are not reality, and we have the power to challenge and change them.
This quote emphasizes the distinction between our thoughts and ourselves, suggesting that we have the ability to observe our thoughts without being controlled by them. It encourages us to engage with unreasonable thoughts critically, reinforcing the idea that we are not merely victims of our mindset but rather active participants in shaping our perspective.
In practice
In a workshop on mental health, you might use this quote to discuss the importance of recognizing and challenging negative thoughts.
Being a depressive should not imply danger any more than being a man or even a human should. Mental illness isn't a them/us issue; we are all on the scale somewhere. So we must be very careful to resist ignorance and combat the stigma that leads to dangerous silence.
It can be difficult for people to talk about it, because there still is that stigma around mental illness. But I would encourage people to do that, because they'll be surprised once they do 'come out' how many other people have had similar experiences.
We need, ultimately, to be able to view mental health with the same clear-headedness we show when talking about physical health.
You are no less or more of a man or a woman or a human for having depression than you would be for having cancer or cardiovascular disease or a car accident.
You don't have to be a creative maverick to have a troubled mind. You just have to be human. There is no 'us' and 'them.' No one is one hundred per cent healthy, physically or mentally.
Teenagers are in some ways the best readers because their imaginations haven't been narrowed down by boring things like jobs and the realities of money and capitalism.
Do this. Don't do that. Stay back in line. Where's tax receipt? Fill out form. Let's see license. Submit six copies. Exit only. No left turn. No right turn. Queue up and pay fine. Take back and get stamped. Drop deadβ but first get permit.
My real dwelling _x000D_ Has no pillars _x000D_ And no roof either _x000D_ So rain cannot soak it _x000D_ And wind cannot blow _x000D_ it down.
What good is all this free-thinking, modernity, and turncoat flexibility if at some gut level you are still a Christian, a Catholic, and even a priest!
To revolt is a natural tendency of life. Even a worm turns against the foot that crushes it. In general, the vitality and relative dignity of an animal can be measured by the intensity of its instinct to revolt.
...two thirds of all sorrow is homemade and, so far as the universe is concerned, unnecessary.
Liberty without virtue would be no blessing to us.
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