on not running a sham

One of the projects I did for school this term was to experiment with an intervention (read: something a therapist does to enact change) that the professor assigned us, to be done over a two week period.  I think I could study all the reasons people change, learn all the tricks to get people to change and even become successful at it but without that piece inside of me that knows how hard it is to do something different, to be better, I think I would just be running a sham.  So this experiment was an intervention we, as students, were to carry out ourselves as if we were clients.  He instructed us, for a two week period, to record at the end of the day three things good that happened that day and why we think they happened.  Prior to the start a supposed client would fill out a small questionnaire with such questions like, how satisfied are you with your life (scale 1-5)?  Following the experiment the client would fill out the same questionnaire hopefully marking a contrast between the two week period.  So I did this.  I made a little chart and each night I sat down and wrote three things that I was thankful for in that day.  Except for on the days I forgot.  Some days it was easy to come up with three things, walked to the tart yogurt shop with family for treats, financial aid check came in the mail or ate a salad with greens from my garden.  On some days it was more challenging.  But when I was in it I began to realize as I went through the day that I was thinking, yup, this moment right here will make the list or this day sucks, what happened.  And while we haven't talked about the professors intention (because therapists always have intention) behind the intervention I can guess it has something to do with mindfulness (read: awareness of what we are doing, choices we are making in our lives, abilities to affect out happy).  The questionnaire that I filled out at the start of the experiment was mostly good as I reckon I am where I want to be in my life and pretty damn happy.  It was with surprise that I was even more satisfied with my life following the intervention.  Tricky professor.  Do I challenge you to do the same?  Maybe just one idea a day for a week?  No, just do it if you want to.  Because you might find out you are happier than you thought you were. 

Comments

[s]

love you.