Haiku

caressing my mouth/gently whisper baby boy/ soothe my weary mind

feel me breathe today/inhale emotions as one/human connection

thunderstorm damage/ understanding acceptance /forgiveness rainbow

peaceful acceptance/wash away regret sorrow/live in the present

Absorbing your warmth /delightful daydream dancing/tingling sensations

Haiku Friday

inarticulate/jubilation beyond words/listen to my heart

hurting heart healing/soothing comfort compassion/cleansing hurtful words

melting into chat/only you and I exist/nothing else matters

appreciation/flowing in my heart for you/helping me each day

whisper softly now/seductive lover of words/all that you desire

I feel you caring /I cry tears of happiness/you understand me

Haiku

glowing gratitude/sharing sweet haiku feelings/a humble honor

sail the sea of dreams/moon beam reflections of hope/are my guide tonight

wings all a flutter/lost in sensual desire/let go and enjoy

salty tears sorrow/ an emotional shipwreck/from the sea of dreams

bright flickering light/let's dance with the lake as one/flowing forever

Weekly Haiku

brittle fall leaves/ decay and fertilize earth/ the rebirth cycle

visions of grandeur/arise from simple pleasures/a smile from the heart

foundation of trust/like an old tree in a storm/shattered limbs strong roots

soft white drifting mist/dissolving with morning light/natures nirvana

the whispering wind /teases with yearning desire/of former lovers

fair weather friendships/smiling warm words feel like a /cold winter sunset

humble heart wisdom/perceives fleeting fragile fame/seeking higher ground

sleepless smoldering/ eternal flame of desire/seeking soothing touch

More on negative thought patterns

My Psychology posts are meant to provide simple techniques anyone can use to feel better. These posts are not meant to be used as a substitute for psychotherapy. My first psychology post discussed how many of our thoughts are conditioned and automatic. In other words we do not choose to think them. They just arise within our minds. I want to focus on negative, repetitive thought patterns. It will be helpful if you can observe your thinking and notice patterns of negative thinking. Write down these repetitive negative thoughts and challenge them with the positive thoughts. For example if you have a negative thought pattern such as: "I cannot do anything right" Write this down and then write down several positive challenges to your automatic thought. It is essential to practice this exercise daily to for it to be helpful.

When we realize negative thought patterns are conditioned and untrue they become less powerful. You can even use humor such as "oh there's my silly worry thoughts again":)

Remember do not believe your negative repetitive thought patterns. Actively challenge these thoughts with positive thoughts. Over time you will have better self esteem. The negative thoughts will be less powerful and you mood will improve. Just remember to incorporate this technique into your daily life.

Haiku

Here are a few of the haiku I have written. I plan to post haiku weekly.

warmth within without/ gentle glistening waves of/ soothing healing love

spirit rock retreat/quiet vipassana mind/humble heart wisdom

you share my karma/the trace of joy grief love hurt/interconnected

eternal searching/lonely longing lost lovers/seeking connection

when September ends/trees cry cool colorful tears/of love for summer

searching photographs/ reflect realize rejoice/reborn every day

burning ice floating/seal sunning water waving/heart warm mom smiling

lost in translation/mystery in the sadness/anger in the tears

hovering angel/go gently into my soul/forever fragile

History of Haikutherapy

This is a simple tale of fear, happiness and joy. Haikutherapy began one day on twitter when I noticed Chantel, @inotherwords_c , playing a haiku word game. Uninvited and without any idea what I was doing I joined in. I was so insecure, however, that once invited I would not play. Chantal kept encouraging me to write. She sent me starter lines and invited me to finish them. That was the birth of haikutherapy.

Chantal also came up with the name haikutherapy. Having Chantel supply starter lines was therapeutic for me because I lacked confidence and would not start or write a haiku on my own. I began writing about important things from my life which is also therapeutic. There is something about writing haiku that is especially therapeutic and fun:)

Chantel suggested we use the #haikutherapy hashtag. @Jannagae joined us and it seems like the three of us wrote #haikutherapy on our own for awhile. I don't remember who joined in next but I am thinking @elm8 and @twitwrit. Please remind me if you are an early haikutherapy participant and I left you out.

Today haikutherapy is beautiful with many gifted writers participating. I invite everybody to join us. If you have any questions about haikutherapy please send a dm and I will try to answer your questions.

Fear has stopped me from doing many things in my life. Thanks to Chantal fear did not stop me from writing haiku. Now I feel joy and happiness that I overcame this fear. Expressing my thoughts and feelings with haiku is a blessing.

The following people generously allowed me to share one of their #haikutherapy for this blog. I encourage everyone to visit #haikutherapy for some wonderful haiku. Please note these are the contributors usernames on twitter.

PookandGrace: Canopy of trees / dappled sunlight, cool sweet breeze / quite, quaint vast chapel

mzzlee: i wouldn't have picked you ::if i had known you were nuts :: unlabelled chocolate!

JeanneBehr: wisdom grace wrinkles ~ another birthday arrives ~ her September smile

Jannagae: Sitting on back porch ~ swinging and swaying, moonstruck ~ stars twinkle secrets

Dr_Wes: bright flickering light/let's dance with the lake as one/flowing forever

Jemfyr: Kookaburra sings / her loose locks, heather braided / gum tree lass of dreams

Alismcg: curled tight against me / face sinks knee deep her purr -/ simple pleasures please

eemalevanah: our eternal flames :: slowly building fast and hot :: underneath the sheets

Lady_Hawke41 True lush oasis / a light breeze blowing inward / the space between thoughts

Nibblesandbits: A doorway opened/when my avatar met yours/take me inside

elm8: your stone-cold silence/my Everest to conquer/sooner or later