Thing 1/Thing 2?

We can start learning about bearing witness, or testifying, by simply looking around and noticing the good things that surround us. (NOTE: If you experience chronic depression, please consult your health care professional at once.) I’m not talking about toxic positivity, or faking gratitude; we’re looking for truth here and you can’t find truth based in a lie.         

So I’m saying to start by bearing witness to yourself—talking to yourself—about the things that are good and beautiful in your life. This doesn’t mean that your troubles are not important; they are, and God cares very much about them. But it will help you to feel better if you sincerely also notice the things that are good.

Talk to yourself about what’s going right, about what you’ve been able to do. Acknowledge your pain as truth, and also acknowledge pleasant things as truth. Maybe try the Thing 1/Thing 2 method: For example, “THING 1 is that I have a really bad headache. THING 2 is that I love the softness of this blue blanket.” Sometimes the THING 1s will be bigger than the THING2s, but the 2s will always be there for you to notice and bear witness to.