Below you'll find a list of all posts that have been categorized as “Resilience”
“Oh, you’re my best friend…” The lyrics of that song by Queen have been running through my mind lately. Which is a much better choice than what usually cycles and recycles through my monkey mind at times. I heard the song a few days ago, and it caused me to ponder: what if we truly were a best friend to …
We spend our days, walking on the beach, lazing about, reading, watching and listening to the ocean, snorkeling, and relaxing. Our one and only goal is to completely relax and enjoy our time together. One morning we take a new direction on our walk. We strolled past ancient fishing ponds and through an area filled with washed up pieces of …
Climbing a wooden ladder, I arrived at a deck overlooking the bucolic valley in Bhutan. I removed my shoes, and entered the 300-year-old wood and brick home. I was led into a large sunny room with an altar in an alcove. Our group sat along the walls on cushions and rugs while the owner of the house welcomed us to …
A friend mentioned that she was impressed that I could generate thought-provoking articles each week. I replied, “It’s just whatever I’m thinking about at the time.” I don’t believe I was trying to deflect the compliment, because I do write about what I’m struggling with, what I’m learning (or relearning), and/or what I’m noticing about myself and my environment. Lately …
Learn, unlearn, and relearn. Three simple words that represent the struggles I go through regularly (as do my clients). The full quote by Alvin Toffler, futurist and philosopher, is: “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.” I bump up against unlearning and re-learning every day. …
I used to think that I had most things figured out. It took a serious health event a few years ago to quickly convince me that I didn’t. I hadn’t realized until that experience how important self-compassion is to resilience and recovery. Basically, self-compassion is a critical factor in well-being. In the initial stages of my recovery I was, fearful, …
Over the years, I’ve worked with many clients who try very hard to contain, control, repress, or ignore their emotions. There seems to be a belief out in the ether that some emotions are not okay, too difficult, or too embarrassing to experience. Or that one shouldn’t deeply feel an emotion that is not “positive.” We may even receive messages …
How often do you grit your teeth in silence and/or tell yourself to “just hang on a little longer?” Perhaps you allow friends or family members to invade your physical or emotional boundaries and say to yourself “never again!” What do you say to yourself when you fail? Do you berate yourself, blame someone else, or think “well that was …
I read a play this week that confused and frustrated me. In my mind (while reading), I kept asking: “Why are the characters acting this way?” As I continued to read, I realized that the frustration and confusion was because the characters weren’t sharing with each other what was really going on, what they were thinking and feeling. What …
How often do you laugh, at yourself? I’m not talking about the rueful snicker that escapes when you realize you’ve made a social faux pas, and you’re trying to pretend that you’re mature enough to toss your head and pretend it doesn’t matter. (Tossing your head is great if you have long hair. It’s not very impressive when you have …
