Have you ever experienced a time when you’ve been thinking about a friend, and then they call you “out of the blue?” Perhaps you find yourself somewhere you’ve never been before and realize that this location has been presented multiple times (e.g. you overheard it described; your best friend mentioned it; or perhaps you had a very detailed dream …
Be Your Best Friend
“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 …
It’s All About Perspective
He has a brain tumor!!! My first thought as I examined the lump behind his left ear. “Did you bump into anything? Hit your head on a cabinet door? Is it tender?” I peppered him with questions, trying to identify a logical explanation for the bulge. My husband had been experiencing sharp intermittent pains in his left ear for a …
Change, change, change…..
“Why is change so hard?!” This plaintive statement I’ve heard from clients (and muttered myself once or twice with added emphasis). Change is difficult because of two very important “laws” of nature. One from the world of physics and another from neuroscience. If you don’t remember Newton’s first law of motion, it’s okay. To paraphrase Newton, an object endeavors to …
The Importance of Self-Gratitude
I’ve been reading about self-compassion lately, and wondering why it is so much easier to feel compassion for others and not ourselves. Why is it easier to forgive others for their missteps, but so hard to give ourselves grace? Those questions led me to ponder the nature of gratitude. Why is it difficult to recognize all the things in the …
What Do You Look At But Don’t See?
We are staying at a cabin in Central Oregon, amongst the Ponderosa Pines and beside a fast-running creek, that joins the Metolius River. The smell of pine is so pervasive I feel intoxicated and slightly giddy as I watch the water. I’m pretending that I need to memorize the sights, sounds, and smells. It is part of my practice to …
Experience A Full Range….of Emotions
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 …
A Hacked Computer Unmasks the Ego
My computer was hacked! Being hacked brought back those anxious thoughts that sat in the back of my mind and would come wriggling to the surface like those huge worms after a rainstorm. “Will I get hacked? How does it happen? How will I know I’ve been hacked? How do you deal with it?” Well, my wriggling worries, came to pass. Luckily, …
New Year Questions, Not Resolutions!
At this time of year there is a myriad of articles, blog posts, and advice columns providing guidance on how to set goals and resolutions for the New Year to make 2017 the best year yet! And there are as many articles on why we don’t keep our New Year’s resolutions to avoid sugar, fats and simple carbohydrates. We will …
Assessments
There’s a saying that what annoys you about others maybe a reflection of you. I was reminded of that (painfully) a few nights ago. I’ve volunteered to serve on a committee that is planning a conference in the spring. The first thirty minutes of the meeting were productive. Participants were discussing the information the chair had prepared, asking clarifying questions, …