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Strength can come from letting go

5/28/2018

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 It can be hard to let things go. We grow attached to people, material items, ideas and situations. We can become so comfortable with these things in our lives, that it can be difficult to imagine life without them. Also, sometimes the thought of no longer having the thing in our life can be more painful than not actually having it.

​ Sometimes we are forced to let go of the things that we are attached to. For example, we may have a health crisis that requires us to let go of certain foods we enjoy or the belief that our health is better than we thought.  Sometimes we lose someone, or we choose to leave someone who does not treat us in a loving and respectful manner. It’s not uncommon for people to cling to things that are no longer good for them. We cling to things we need to let go of for many reasons. One reason is, at one point in time, whatever it is we are having a hard time letting go of, brought us joy and a sense of fulfillment. We can get stuck in a place of not wanting to let go because we often think back on the times that we were happier or remember the joy we felt when the thing we are having a hard time letting go of first entered our life.  Another reason we struggle with letting things go is the pain from the loss. Pain often arises when we are fighting to hold on to something that is drifting away from us. I often visualize it as watching water slip through my fingers. No matter how hard I try, I cannot make it stay for good.

 Most of us know when it’s time to say goodbye to something we have outgrown but often struggle to let go. Change can happen so subtly that we don’t realize that we are growing until one day we stop and reflect on our lives or someone we know points it out to us.

 Letting go of someone or something that we have outgrown or that we no longer need in our lives doesn’t have to be so painful. Taking a step back to look at the situation from a place of gratitude can be extremely helpful. Often, there are many life lessons that we gain from each person or challenging situation that we experience in life. Sometimes we realize that we are stronger than we thought, and sometimes we realize that we need more loving support in our lives so that we can face things that we are not strong enough to face alone. Also, letting go opens the door or clears the space for someone or something else to enter our lives. When we let go, it clears the way for us to meet a new and better partner, home, friend, job or healthy habit.

 Letting go takes courage. It’s better for us to choose to let go instead of trying to force something to stay that needs to go. When we make a choice to let something go, we face our fears head on, and as a result grow stronger. Also, when we choose to let go, we choose to acknowledge our power in the situation, become empowered and are less likely to feel like a victim of circumstances. 
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just be

5/21/2018

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  Taking time to sit and be still can feel like a luxury in our busy, do it yesterday society. To be still means to be quiet, at rest and calm. I strongly believe that being still is highly underrated. Being still can lower our blood pressure and can help with creativity and concentration. Being still gives us time to reflect and recognize the many blessings that fill our lives. When we are constantly running from one task to another task, or social media post to social media post, we miss the opportunity to be still and just be. We miss the opportunity to be without expectation, to be without responsibility, and to feel how blessed we are. When we take time to be, we become a recipient of all that life has to offer because we have opened ourselves up to the infinite possibilities by not looking for or avoiding whatever it is we are searching for. We just are being. Some would go as far to say that when we are still and just being, we have everything that we need in that moment of time and are connected to Source Energy.
  We all need time to be still and just be. Being still feeds the soul, re-energizes the body and gives the mind a much-deserved break. Taking care of yourself and being still is one way you can help yourself to be more present, creative and energized to handle all that life requires of you.
You may be wondering how you can just sit and be with some many responsibilities looming over you? Just being does not require a lot of time and effort. Find a quiet space (use the restroom or a closet if needed), sit down in a comfortable position, close your eyes and take some deep breaths. If your mind starts to wonder to your to do list, say to yourself “Okay, I’ll get to it in a few minutes” or “I’ve got time”, and return your attention to taking deep breaths. You can also do this while listening to your favorite calming song, or sitting outside while watching birds fly, or watching the wind blow the leaves on a tree.
  I hope you’ll take some time today to sit and just be.
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Change one thing at a time

5/14/2018

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  Let’s face it. Change is hard. We are comfortable with the familiar and it can be scary to think of how life will be different if we make a change. We can get stuck in a weird limbo space and question “should I do it or not?” Sometimes we’re in limbo for days or weeks but more often months or years. There can be many reasons as to why we stay in this place of limbo when we know we need to make a change.
  I believe what can and often happens is that we think we must make a huge change versus making smaller changes that eventually equal a large change. During the many times that I knew I had to make a big change, it seemed too overwhelming, so I did nothing and became bitter towards the fact that I needed to make a change. At some point, I figured out that it’s important to break things down into smaller steps. I adopted the manta “One thing at a time. One step at a time”. I also made the commitment to do one thing per day or one thing per week until I created the change that needed to happen.
  Some of you may be thinking “I’m scared”. To be afraid of change is natural but I challenge you to ask yourself, is your fear of change because you’re afraid to fail? Are you also afraid others will judge you if you fail? To fear failure or to not want to be judged by others is natural. Let’s acknowledge something else while we’re thinking about things that may be stopping us from changing. We can be afraid that the change we make may require us to do something that we’re not too excited about. For example, giving up chocolate and eating a healthier diet or waking up early to exercise. It's helpful to think about how the change will benefit you in the long run. Think about how the change will make you a better friend, parent or partner. You can also reflect on how the change may make you feel less stressed and therefore be more present when you spend time with loved ones. There may be other benefits that you can reflect on such as how the change may prolong your life and you’ll have more time with your loved ones, or perhaps the change will result in you working at a place that makes you feel happier and fairly compensates you.
  Change although scary is possible. The first step is usually the hardest step but breaking your goal down into small action steps can help you to create change. It takes time to see a big change, but you will eventually see it. Remember one thing at a time and one step at a time, and you’ll achieve your goal. 

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When you feel like giving up remember that rainbows appear after the storm

5/8/2018

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​ We all go through difficult periods in our lives. You may be experiencing one now or just finished experiencing one. Difficult periods in life can include a separation from a partner, the loss of a job or a physical health issue. It can be hard to find the silver lining and see the sun still shining beyond the clouds. It can be helpful to think of these difficult life periods as a thunderstorm that often creates chaos and sometimes destruction but is often followed by a rainbow. We don’t always remember that the most tumultuous times in our lives often clear the way for something new, exciting, and often unexpected to begin in our lives. If you feel like giving up, remember that everything is temporary. I know that when we experience a difficult period and the full force of the thunderstorm, it can be terrifying and painful. It is during these times that we must seek shelter in the people we love and who love us. They will be the ones to give us an umbrella, raincoat or depending on the severity of the thunderstorm, a life raft or boat so that we can survive the storm. We can weather any thunderstorm or difficult life experience with the people who love us, supporting and cheering us on. At some point after the storm has passed, you’ll have the opportunity to repay the favor by supporting them through their thunderstorm.
 Remember, thunderstorms don’t last forever. The rain, clouds and thunder will eventually pass, and life will get better and your special rainbow will appear.  
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    Christina is a Psychotherapist in private practice in Wichita, Kansas.

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