Truth Cubing

Building a solid foundation

Okay, I know your first question is "What is truth cubing?" and I promise we will get there.

Once upon a time I didn't really like myself. For every positive thought about Kim that might have slipped into my brain, a hundred negative ones swamped it instead.

Even when things started getting a little better, and I'd briefly feel good about my art or my body or my projects or my friends, the confidence faded as soon as it appeared.

"Nobody really liked that painting."
"But have you seen your arms?"
"This won't last."

Eventually a therapist asked me if there was anything positive I truly believed about myself. That I had a lot of evidence for, that was harder than most to doubt. I didn't have an answer for her then, but as I thought about it over the next week, one formed.

The quality was still not something I felt 100%, not in my worst moments. But it was the one thing I found myself falling back on most often. Especially when I was down.

I told my therapist about it at our next session and she said, "Good. Now how can you store that confidence, this certainty about your positive quality. Because I know it's not 100%, but I want you to have this moment to come back to when you think you're all bad."

My head immediately pictured myself packing up this knowledge in a little box and storing it on a shelf in my brain.

It was my first truth cube.

Truth cubing is the process of storing little nuggets of information that your brain can agree on and find evidence to support.

Start small.

"I learn chords fast."
"My elbows are cool."
"I try to be kind."

It's not just for self-esteem. I have truth cubes that help me remember my husband really loves me. I have truth cubes that are evidence of my ability to do hard things.

They are small, but together they give me a solid foundation when I don't have much else.