Science has bought the whole "depression is a result of a
chemical imbalance." We have whole theories about how
a low level of serotonin in the brain leads to depression.
So, we have a whole medicine industry that is caught up in
the pursuit of healing depression through a chemical
intervention.

Yet medication has failed to bring about healing. Why? We
missed the boat. Depression is rooted in our thoughts. Our
minds become our own worst enemy. And we even have a
theory about how to heal this: cognitive therapy. But a
cognitive approach is not enough. It makes one central
mistake. It keeps us rooted to our thoughts.

You see, cognitive therapy is built on the idea that our
thoughts are skewed. So, a cognitive therapy approach
tries to help people look at how a thought is skewed, and
then uses logic to help "fix" the thought. For example, a
person notices a strange spot on his chest. He begins to
think "something is wrong." He continues on with "this is
cancer." And quickly arrives at the idea that "I'm going to
die from this." All of this without a visit to a doctor!

A cognitive therapist would point out that the person is
"catastrophizing." In other words, his thought is being
skewed from noticing a strange spot on his chest to seeing
himself dead. So, the therapist would help the person
begin to use some rational thought: at this point, there is a
spot on his chest. Nothing more. And until there is more
information, and other thought is dangerous.

You may wonder what is wrong with this approach. And
there is nothing wrong. It simply falls short of the real issue.
Because a cognitive approach simply seeks to exchange a
skewed thought with a more correct thought.

But a thought is still the issue. The truth is this: A Thought Is
Just A Thought! Some thoughts may be more useful, more
helpful. But that makes it no more real.

Our minds are designed to create thoughts. And our minds
are incredibly capable of doing this. Sometimes, our minds
come up with useful and helpful thoughts. And sometimes,
our mind churns out painful and hurtful thoughts. But in the
end, both are merely thoughts.

When we buy into the thoughts, our mental health
becomes more and more threatened. And that is the
problem with the cognitive approach. It still leaves us
believing our thoughts are real -- that they have some
inherent truth or reality.

The way out of this trap is both simple and difficult. Imagine
a continuum, a line between two extremes. At one end is
the idea that "A Thought Is Reality." At this extreme, people
believe that whatever pops into their head is real. In other
words, "if I think it, it is real." The extreme is what we know
as psychosis. An example of this psychosis: if I believe the
"World Army" is coming in black helicopters, then it must
be true. No matter what others tell me, I simply choose to
believe my thoughts.

At the other end of the continuum is the idea that "A
Thought Is A Thought." A person at this end is always
aware that a thought in his or her head is simply that: a
thought. And if a thought begins to torment him or her, then
that person is able to take a step back, remember that a
thought is just a thought, and let it go.

"Let it go" is impossible, you think? Yet we do it every day. I
am sitting in an important meeting, when suddenly my
mind creates a thought about the fact that I have
something very important to do. I follow that thought, but
then remind myself: I am at an important meeting, and I
need to focus on that. I refocus on the meeting, and
indeed, I let the thought go.

So, there it is, proof that a thought can be released.
Thoughts really only have as much power as we give
them. No more, no less.

Become aware of your thoughts, and you master your
universe. Fail to recognize that a thought is just a thought,
and you are at the whims of your mind, a very difficult
taskmaster!