Get Out of Autopilot and Back Into the Driver's Seat of Life

Check out the Jan/Feb 2016 issue of Grand Traverse Woman. Lots of great information in their fitness issue including Stephanie Berger's article on Mindfulness....

Mindfulness

As a business owner, private-practice therapist, wife and mother of four daughters ages 15 months to 16 years, I can attest to feeling overwhelmed at times while managing the activities of a busy life. But I have found that when I take time to stop and consciously slow down, take some deep breaths and focus on the moment at hand—techniques that are part of practicing “mindfulness”—I am able to re-group and better handle the next situation. ...read the entire article on page 10 of the Jan/Feb 2016 Grand Traverse Woman.

Mindfulness in the New Year

The New Year comes with anticipation of what lies ahead and also the expected pressure of making resolutions. Instead of putting pressure on ourselves to commit to a big change that might seem hard to attain, we can focus on daily small changes that might end up having a big impact. 

Filling our days with mindfulness can lead to less stress, greater ability to regulate our emotions, and greater connectedness to the world around us. Mindfulness is really quite a simple concept - being aware of what is happening in the present moment without judging, but with kindness and curiosity. You do not have to set aside thirty to sixty minutes of time to be mindful. You can actually fit mindfulness into small minutes of time throughout your day. You don’t have to be a certain age and it costs no money. Here are some simple examples of how you, by yourself or with another, can fit some mindfulness into your day.

1. Stand outside for a few minutes and let the snowflakes gently fall onto your face while looking up into the sky.
2. In your yard, neighborhood, or while walking down the street, pay attention to what is around you.  Stop and listen for the chirp of a bird. Watch a squirrel scampering about. Smile at the people you see. Look around until you find something you haven’t noticed before.
3. Think of something or someone you are grateful for. Picture this in your mind. Think about it for a minute and notice how it makes you feel.
4.  Get out the crayons. Sit quietly and color. Focus on the coloring and notice the relaxed feeling. Pay attention to your breath - you might even notice it relaxing and slowing down.
5. Go for a walk. Feel your feet touching the earth with each step. As you feel your feet on the earth imagine people all over the world walking on and feeling the same earth as you. 

Blessings to you in the New Year.

Chasing the dream …

This is what we knew: We knew that we loved the counseling profession and had a calling for this work dating back to childhood. We knew we had passion and dedication. We knew we had some really good training and experience. We knew that people in our community are seeking help, support, connections and guidance, AND we thought perhaps there might be a better way to help them.

This is what we learned: Chasing the dream is hard. We learned to pound the pavement for the right home, and then we learned to pound the pavement some more. We learned about filling out tax forms, insurance forms, more insurance forms, and website design. We learned that chasing the dream is sometimes filled with monotonous details that are mentally taxing and exhausting. We learned that it is scary and nerve-racking. Much like the work we ask of our counseling clients, we learned that we needed to step out of our comfort zone, and then once outside the zone, we needed to step out further. Chasing the dream is filled with self-reflection and challenging our beliefs. We learned that it can be demanding and life-changing. We also learned that it is hard to do it alone, and that having someone to help shoulder that burden is always a plus.

This is what we have become: We have become more committed than ever to this deeply satisfying profession. We have become more determined and dedicated to this dream and vision of bringing mental health services to a place of wellness and wholeness. We have become more compassionate towards our clients, and respectful of their journey. We have become more willing to evolve, change, and grow as needed. We have become more confident and proud of where we came from and where we are going. We have become humbled by the amount of love and support we have we received from our family, friends, and community.

Chasing the dream is so worth it.  For more information about our practice please click the Record Eagle article title: "Counselors Strive for Relaxed Office Atmosphere."  

With gratitude,

Linda, Stephanie, and Earlene