Speaker: Vincent Schutt from Environmentum (A Project of Tides Canada)Written by: Sheena Jain & Esha Jain
Using the acronym F.E.A.R, Vincent Schutt has created a strategic method on how to approach and manage “toxic thoughts.” He suggests that first, we as individuals need to locate the source behind the toxic thought, in order to eventually resolve or reconcile with that initial thought. The following depicts the necessary steps required to adequately manage toxic thoughts.
1) Frame: Locate your toxic thought
→ This can be done by classifying the source of the thought as:
The individual themselves
Their Family
Their Community
Their City
Their Province
Their Country
Their Global Society
2) Evaluate the thought: Narrow in on the type of problem, in order to gain perspective on what steps
can be taken to improve the “toxic thought”. This will prevent the “toxic thought” from, weighing the
individual down.
→ Create a spectrum that increases progressively from least to most beneficial ways to
improve the toxic thought.
3) Assess/Appreciate: Locate where you are on the spectrum
4) Reconcile: Determine whether you have the capacity in your life to do something about the toxic
thought.
Maybe you will realize that you cannot actually move forward with resolving this toxic thought
Maybe you will not be able to approach this problem right away because you have spectrums in other areas that need to be addressed first
Managing your toxic thoughts using these steps can give you a better perspective on where you are in terms of managing the problem, what future steps you can take, and what limitations you may have. Thus allowing you to put the thought to rest once and for all.
Using the above steps, Mr. Schutt demonstrated how you can manage toxic thoughts regarding the elimination of waste products for example.
1) Frame: Waste management is a problem located in the city in which you live
FRAMES EVALUATE Global Society Country Province City 0-High consumption
1- Not Separating waste products at all
2- Make some mistakes sorting waste products
3- Compost & Recycle
4- Reuse
5 - Reduce
Community Family Me
2) Evaluate: See spectrum above
3) Assess/Appreciate: Using his example, Mr. Schutt classified himself as being between
Steps 3 & 4, in terms of how he handles waste in his everyday life.
4) Reconcile: This activity puts into perspective: where the problem lies, a spectrum of how people may
handle this problem, where you classify yourself in terms of improving this problem, what further
actions you can take and what limitations you may have when it comes to this problem. This will
essentially allow you to come to terms with the “toxic thought: so that it does not weigh you down.