I don't know what I'm doing
I don't know what I'm feeling 
I don't know where I'm going 
I don't know who I'm being 
I'm overwhelmed,
frustrated, 
I can't cope

These are the slogans 
I repeat to myself 
Over and over again 

Oh yeah 

I'm a failure too 
I've lived this life 
What did I do?
What do I have to 
show for it?

These facts about myself 
are the one thing 
I'm very positive about. 

I repeat these slogans 
day in and day out 
always wondering 
what I'm so
depressed about

I bury my head in these sands

Suffocating 
Smothering 
choking on anxiety 
in my own 
advertising slogans 
on my private airwaves 

To complicate
matters 
worse 
just because we think something 
doesn't make it true
that goes for 
self worth too. 

But 

Mindfulness 
stands
watching the passing cars
from a freeway overpass
like our racing thoughts 
not holding on 
not making them go away,
in peace
simply 
letting them 
be.

sjr1000

Cognitive Therapy

Jun 5, 2026

June 2026

2026

Anger & Conflict - June 2026

Beauty & Aesthetics - June 2026

Dark & Scary - June 2026

Death & Mortality - June 2026

Drama & Tragedy - June 2026

Family & Relationships - June 2026

Fantasy & Magical - June 2026

Happiness & Joy - June 2026

Heartbreak & Loss - June 2026

Historical & Ancient - June 2026

Hope & Optimism - June 2026

Humor & Satire - June 2026

Inspiration & Motivation - June 2026

Love & Romance - June 2026

Mystery & Supernatural - June 2026

Nature & Environment - June 2026

Philosophical & Intellectual - June 2026

Political & Social - June 2026

Sadness & Melancholy - June 2026

Sexy & Sensual - June 2026

Time & Nostalgia - June 2026

Transformation & Change - June 2026

War & Heroism - June 2026

World & Travel - June 2026

lidede

"You can hide the fire, but what will you do about the smoke"

SoulSurvivor

I can't believe I missed this poem! What a wonderful writing! We groove these negative songs in our heads like we're burning CDs. If we just let it all go and look around us at the beauty, that what I believe is our creator, has made we can throw away all that negativity. After all what do we have but moments? I learned mindfulness through my practices of meditation and prayer. I believe it's one of the most valuable disciplines I have ever obtained. I put a shine on this poem Steve. I seem to do that a lot with yours... LOL! I hope it doesn't make you feel shy. I just really enjoy and appreciate your work. &#9734;&#9825;&#9734;

alyssa-underwood

Congratulations, Steve, on a wonderful and well-deserving (and personally very timely) daily!! :)

ForeignCabRides

Yep. Sometimes we make our problems worse by repeating our worries, fears, doubts, make it a mantra, and convince ourselves of its truth. I don't believe in the cliche 'just be positive, it'll take away your depression' crap, because...no. But there is truth in your brain being either a great ally, or a worst enemy, depending on how you go about things. Brilliant, intelligent, thought-provoking write that resonates for me, and I'm sure others.

pradip-chattopadhyay

ah, the flux that is us, within the little time in transit.
not merely poetry, your work Steve is philosophy.

melissa-s

I often feel like this too. I would even say that all of us have at least felt this way at least once in our life. Great write Steve! xo

BusbarDancer

rkane

Magnificent , love this poem.,and this is true! 
No battle!

GoneGirlwentMad

denel-kessler

ChrisGVaillancourt

jeffrey-robinta

... states of mind are transitory , come and go ...

///

We can ALL SAY we agree ...

BUT ...

Apply this wisdom to a poem expressing some sort of love feeling ....

& see if you are agreed with !

NO !

Love is ETERNAL ! FOREVER !

..: & to hell with anyone who suggests otherwise !

lora-lee

christopher-k-bayliss

I love this it seems that you have removed my thought process and scripted it. Great Ink!

rebecca-askew

paul-chafer

good write. Whenever down, I tell myself, 'failure is something I've done, not what I am.'

k-balachandran

I think the story of a war Arjuna fought against own cousins to get back the country they usurped, sudden realization of the futility of war and it's gain killing relatives and following dejection and depression,the revelation of Krishna the avatar that all this is a worldly drama we have to act and beyond that the essence of all in one and eternal, told in "Bhagavad Gita"has kept Indians from time immemorial from such dilemmas.All souls are reflection of one eternal light and 
what we act here, sow and reap are the fruits of karma kept generation of Indians in good mental health."Do your karma,
do not seek the fruit"is still held as divine truth within Indian psyche, and equips to deal with all frustrations.If you are leading a socially useful life you qualify to be a saint-Mahatma- and if one goes beyond that would be revered as 
a holy man, a Godhead, is the Indian experience.Work is worship,in other words "in good karma is the  redemption liberation and salvation"
I enjoyed the inner journey asking questions, akin the Indian knowledge tradition,seeking absolute, culling what is not absolute, saying "Neti, Neti"(not this not this)
Finally they find the truth and put it thus"Om tat sat"
The truth(absolute) is one.Here Physics embrace metaphysics
I believe what Nietzsche meant is this when he said "Absolute essence is nothingness".Indians see absolute as "pure, ego less, inert, fathomless consciousness"
Thank you Steve, for this inquiry, according to Indian knowledge systems , which alone counts, than all other sciences, of physical nature.
Bala

joe-adomavicia

I like this post it can relate to the reader and the lyricism is strong in this piece. I hope that the feelings pass and you see better days my friend. It is refreshing to read your work

sanjukta-nag

patty-mmmmmmmmmm

I think you need new slogans sugars.  You know I was married to a abuser for a long time.  I shouldn't have lived, it was so horrid be constantly be degraded, never being right, I knew in my heart I was better, but when your tooth gets knocked out, and you're hemorrhaging, and ill, and constantly punched and beaten, and running with child in tow to hidden basements, sleeping on the ground until new days' light.  I was so beaten down, but I worked cleaning houses, mowing lawns, I kept my child clean and well dressed.  She was bright and I protected her at all costs.  I should have died.  Sometimes when he put a knife to my throat and pricked it a bit or played Russian roulette with gun at my head, or pushed me down the stairs, I wanted to die.  But no I had a mission and God heard my prayers.  And my abuser died of the DTS, drowning on his own fluids.  My mantra was a the same everyday.  Look in the mirror and say I love you, your have self worth.  I believed it, I got a good job within a week, I supported my child, I got my health back and I healed.  Never give in to depression or anything.  Fight like hell.  Good days are coming if you believe it.  Kiss the ground and say thanks for this brand new day.  I love you, you have self worth.  I'm hoping this is something from the class you went too and not a personal problem, but either way it's good advice. A very disheartening write that made me ache with sadness just thinking about it. 
much luv
Patty

removed.-cy7q

try telling that to a moon person.

(walking away) hahahahaa

only-me

Congratulations Steve, the day won for probing the intricate texture of mind. Poetry is richer.

JustinG

This is just phenomenal writing. I had to read three times. Cheers to your daily.

se-reimer

a brutally honest daily... brother, this is real stuff!  and thank you... i most certainly appreciated this therapy session!!  lets do this again next week... same time?  congratulations, Steve!!
(:  just another Steve

removed.-a1cb

removed.-auqd

Hey, Sjr1000! Congrats on the daily...loved your therapeutic poem:)

mariau4

Missed this in my intermittent presence. 
Congrats my friend! Your voice of reason never fails to amaze.
 Happy to see you recognized!!

removed.-9ncf

Congratulations, Steve! Incredible poetry flowing from one of the most brilliant and creative minds, here on HP. Thanks so much for your poems.

rw-dennen

Congrats Sjr1000, hysterically funny poem and how true and brilliant. Oh how at times we can be our worst enemy you saw the target and hit it!!!

Congrats on the daily! This poem describes the process of getting through anxiety snd other negative emotions perfectly

removed.-9w51

removed.-u419

Congrats, my friend!  So happy to see you here this morning.
: )

jim-timonere

Been through Cog myself when my mother died and some other things made life seem, well you know.  I am past that spot now and you will be too.  You write too well not to see the value in yourself if you look more objectively.  It's not the writing structure i can see, but the soul you expose in your poem.  Best regards.

TravelerTim

How did this slide by me, Your not the Daily enough Steve, Congrats! I message you.

Hoooooooooray Congrats on the Daily, Steve 
enjoy it.  :o)

francie-lynch

polar

Congratulations Srj,
Great poem you wrote here. 
Peace

Great to see you and this wonderful poem chosen as the daily ~ Congrats my friend xoxo :)

oldpoetMK

matthew-james

mary-winslow

A true daily poem for every day contemplation
Who am I?I am that what moves everything in this universe!
Incredible..what am i doing here...As Mallarme's cat said
we are pretending to be characters in a play, but ditched by illusion, get unnecessarily worried..
Congrats Steve
Bala

removed.-otpn

Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, &#8220;If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.&#8221;

Jesus answered them, &#8220;Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin. And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. (&#8237;John&#8236; &#8237;8&#8236;:&#8237;31-32, 34-36&#8236; NKJV)

SassyJ

Congratulations on the daily my dear poet friend. It is a way of existing, the never ending taboo in the society!

ChristiMichaels

Riveting introspective write.
You are so on point..'these States of mind are transitory, come and go.'
!!!CONGRATULATIONS on the DAILY!!!

removed.-cvp6

victoria-1

Wonderfully philosophical work...change is a constant for sure.

GaryL

ketomarose

excellent write - so true how we think affects so much - congrats on poem of the day

removed.-q868

So true !

And that the truth contained in the poem also applies 

To thoughts like :

I REALLY LOVE HIM ! HE IS MY EVERYTHING !

::

MY EVERYTHING LEFT ME ! NOW I AM  BROKEN !!

--

I WOULD BE YOURS FOREVER ! 

__

Etc 

--

That is 

To 90% of the poems on HP

( which we now can see --  are written with I retrofitted vanity 

And are not really READ at all )

sally-a-bayan

Never too late for congratulations, Steve....a well -deserved daily poem!
Sally

madhukanta-sen2x

glowglowglowglowglow

jackie-wilson

A timely reminder that we can't fix everything or even necessarily control it and sometimes the only thing you can do is let it go.

cynthia-jeany9

if we could just do that...let them be :)