I say I want to make a difference. I know deep down within myself that making a difference in someone's life-even if it's just a "little" thing-makes me feel good. I also know that feeling good about myself makes my life a joyful experience.
Then I remember what it takes to make a difference. It usually takes risking being hurt, at the very least it takes moving out of my comfort zone. And the bigger the difference I'm wanting to make, the more I have to be willing to risk!
This is where the rubber meets the road in the land of really living a joyfilled life. What I'm learning and reflecting upon is: making a difference is a one-step-at-a-time process like other worthwhile pursuits.
I can take baby steps, acknowledge the outcome, and go on to a bigger action. Tomorrow is the first day of a speakers bootcamp I'm participating in. I don't even want to go out speaking. But I know that as a speaker I will have the opportunity to take forward steps in fulfilling my heart's desire of sharing what I know and what I have experienced that might help others.
Tuesday, March 25, 2008
Thursday, March 6, 2008
The Blessings of Doing Grief Recovery
As I think about my purpose in the work I do as a coach specializing in grief recovery, I ask myself questions that others have asked me. What helps when I'm in that very uncomfortable feeling of overwhelm, confusion, sadness, and depression? Is this feeling a result of the group of losses I experienced in a short period of time? And if so, can I accurately say it's a result of grief?
If it is, just in naming it, I feel some power in dealing with it. I remember the definition of grief as "the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior. Grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss. " (Grief Recovery Institute)
Yes, I sure had a lot of that. No wonder I feel stuck and lost sometimes.
Some explanation of why there are these times and what to do to get past it, helps me know it's a temporary feeling. As I allow myself to just sit and feel, I experience peace coming to my mind, a feeling of "I'm OK." I can acknowledge myself for the difficult times I've been through and that I am a strong and courageous person who has a lot to give to others as I take good care of myself.
Doing grief recovery work has me understand myself and my response in my daily circumstances and relationships. Notice I say "response." Before doing my ongoing grief work, I would be in an automatic reaction to stuff that happened each day. Now, I can more consciously choose what I say, what I do.
This to me is the true meaning of freedom - having the power to choose.
So, doing my grief work - that is, not being afraid to think about painful memories and feel those feelings surrounding tough times - opens me to fully participating every day in my life. It allows me to really enjoy my days, even the times that are not so comfortable.
If it is, just in naming it, I feel some power in dealing with it. I remember the definition of grief as "the conflicting feelings caused by the end of or change in a familiar pattern of behavior. Grief is the normal and natural reaction to loss. " (Grief Recovery Institute)
Yes, I sure had a lot of that. No wonder I feel stuck and lost sometimes.
Some explanation of why there are these times and what to do to get past it, helps me know it's a temporary feeling. As I allow myself to just sit and feel, I experience peace coming to my mind, a feeling of "I'm OK." I can acknowledge myself for the difficult times I've been through and that I am a strong and courageous person who has a lot to give to others as I take good care of myself.
Doing grief recovery work has me understand myself and my response in my daily circumstances and relationships. Notice I say "response." Before doing my ongoing grief work, I would be in an automatic reaction to stuff that happened each day. Now, I can more consciously choose what I say, what I do.
This to me is the true meaning of freedom - having the power to choose.
So, doing my grief work - that is, not being afraid to think about painful memories and feel those feelings surrounding tough times - opens me to fully participating every day in my life. It allows me to really enjoy my days, even the times that are not so comfortable.
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