Gratitude

What are you grateful for? Have you stopped today to consider the things that you have?

Speaking of money...

What do you think about money? Is it a necessary evil? A mountain to be scaled? Is the goal always on your horizon? Would you know when you'd attained your perfect relationship with money?

What are your earliest memories of money? Was there never enough? How did you learn to earn it, use it, save it? Do these questions bring up tension, fear, frustration and guilt? Perhaps there is writing on your walls that speaks volumes to you: "I deserve to have money.....BUT..." or "I'll be happy when I have a thousand, million, billion, gazillion dollars. Only, then I'll have to ....." Sometimes it's the writing on our walls that gets in the way of actually getting what you want. I can help you to overcome the writing on your walls using the emotional freedom technique. Learn to use this and perhaps get in touch with my friend, Dave Blancett (www.IHelpPlan.com) and realize that the sky is indeed the limit. Don't let money, or the lack of it, stand in the way of your happiness. Take care as you consider who you are in relation to money. Until next time...

Do your emotions ever overwhelm you?

I'm aware that there are times when I notice others really reacting strongly to a situation. There's just something that tells you, and probably them, that the reaction is MUCH bigger than the current issue warrants. If we stop to think about it, we'd likely realize that it's every bit of anger, sadness, frustration, fear, etc. that we've felt over the years, all piled up like football players on a field. The guy on top feel the intensity of the moment just like the poor soul at the bottom of the pile. Can you imagine that there might be a time when you felt something, even the "good" feelings and it was pure and related ONLY to the moment at hand? Talk about living in the moment! It's easy for us to say "live in the moment" except, what about all those memories (known and unknown) that are all mixed up with this moment. I'd like to offer you an opportunity to live fully and completely in the moment.

I've begun to research and use a technique known as Emotional Freedom Technique (see www.emofree.com), on myself and on clients, family and friends with some really incredible success.

What is EFT?
Created by Gary Craig, EFT is based on a new discovery regarding the body's subtle energies. Simply stated, it is an emotional version of acupuncture, except needles aren't necessary. Instead, you stimulate well established energy meridian points on your body by tapping on them with your fingertips. The process is easy to memorize and is portable so you can do it anywhere. It launches off the EFT Discovery Statement which says...

"The cause of all negative emotions is a disruption in the body's energy system."

And because our physical pains and diseases often appear to be connected with our emotions the following statement has also shown merit...

"Our unresolved negative emotions are major contributors to most physical pains and diseases."

This common sense approach draws its power from (1) time-honored Eastern discoveries that have been around for over 5,000 years and (2) Albert Einstein, who told us back in the 1920's that everything (including our bodies) is composed of energy. These ideas have been largely ignored by Western Healing Practices and that is why EFT can work where nothing else does.

More benefits await you...
You can make enormous strides by introducing EFT into your emotional therapy process (whether you are a professional or a client). Instead of taking months or years using conventional "talk therapy," EFT often does the job for you cleanly and thoroughly in one or two sessions ... and we often achieve noticeable results in a few brief rounds of EFT. We label these near-instant results as "one minute wonders." Do EFT properly and you will likely experience them 50% of the time.

Once you have seen how well EFT clears out emotional debris, your next step is to notice how physical ailments start to fade. Headaches, back pains and other discomforts often tend to improve or vanish. Your vision may become clearer and everyday stress takes less toll on your system.

Accordingly, you can apply it to just about everything. That is one of the most astonishing things about it. You use the same basic procedure for your fear of public speaking as you do for improving your golf score. You can also use it for everything from the common cold to multiple sclerosis (consult your physician, of course). Further, we have had reported successes for nearly every emotional issue on the books...including fear, trauma, depression, grief and schizophrenia. Some consider it the missing link in the pursuit of health and happiness. Once you truly recognize the Universal nature of EFT you will may wish to join our growing throng of enthusiasts.

Possible EFT limitations

I'm not saying here that EFT is perfect. We don't get 100%. But it usually works well and the results are sometimes spectacular. It can work where nothing else does and it represents a Doorway to a new Healing High-Rise.

You will find that EFT is usually quite gentle and you can often achieve substantial relief with little or no pain. This is not true for everyone, however. Some people's issues are so intense that the mere mention of them causes emotional or physical pain. But, given time, even these may be resolved efficiently with EFT.

A small percentage of our population (best estimate is less than 3%) have serious emotional and physical disabilities and thus newcomers to EFT are advised to exercise common sense in this regard. While you can use EFT to generate impressive relief for many people, please consult qualified health practiitioners where appropriate and don't go where you aren't qualified.

I have really observed amazing results with this approach. For me personally, I have a knee that is lacking a significant amount of cartilege and therefore really hurts a lot of the time. In fact, for years I've experienced periods of time where the pain is so strong that I will often limp. After a round of EFT, I can walk easily, smoothly and without any indication of a limp. I've even been able to minimize or stop Brian's snoring! Ask me about that one! If you would like more information, or an opportunity to work with me on reducing the stressors or old strong feelings, give me a call. I'm working on introductory workshops and will post new information soon.

Are you a strong financial person?

I can truthfully admit this is not one of my strong points, or, it has NOT been in the past. I'm on the road to becoming stronger and more aware of my issues with money. And, because I'm a therapist and I realize that we don't always have to do everything by ourselves, I got some incredibly amazing help from someone I want to introduce to you!

Dave Blancett, of Blancett Financial Counsulting (www.IHelpPlan.com), contacted me recently. Knowing that his services could benefit some of my clients, we scheduled a time to meet. Upon meeting Dave, I really liked and appreciated his knowledgeable and laid-back approach to financial planning. I decided that the best way to determine who of my clients might best benefit from Dave's services, I asked him to help me!

Like most financial planners, Dave reviewed my monthly income, spending and wishes for travel and some fun along the way! The program that he provided is very comprehensive, easy to read and smooth to use - I especially like that he took the time to teach me a few Excel "tricks" that I've enjoyed using. Mostly, I like seeing that personal financial security is not that far away. It also allows me to see how I can personally impact it to the positive along the way! So, now, I have a 4 year plan that I am excited to begin in July. I'll write more about the ease of use as I go along. Give Dave a call. He's a good guy and good guys are super in my book!

So, posting once a month.....

....is not exactly what I'd planned, but that's what it looks like for me at this time. I'm excited about the spring and must say, that the Easter gathering of my family was delightful. Even though a couple of family members were absent, and missed, the day was .....well, great. it was as if we turned a corner and returned to - recaptured - the joy, the humor and the family-ness that we longed for. It had been 5 years since our last family dinner with our mom and she was missed - my sister and I both hope that we are carrying on her love of family and tradition. The young men of our family, Matt and Andrew, each brought the significant young women in their lives to share our Easter. We are grateful that they chose to spend this time with us and add to the fun of our weekend. Kelsey and Olivia are truly sweet and good young women.

I'm very excited about the work that I am doing just now with so many new and varied clients. Their stories are rich and important and I'm honored to be a part of their journey. My daily wish is that I can be of some help to each person that I touch. I'm grateful for the clients that come my way. Thank you to the universe for bringing each of them to me.

More in the very near future.....

Working to your Strengths

So, I'm really tired tonight but I had to sit down and begin this. I've been so busy thinking about so many things and need to get it out. I've been thinking a lot lately about strengths and purpose and greatness. I'll get to all of those eventually, but as of today, I'm talking about strengths.

I was sitting in my office today, waiting for a client who eventually no-showed. Ok, so I was able to put the time to good use, but please, if you are serious about your mental health issues, please remember that cancelling is an important, and courteous, thing to do. If I'm waiting for you and don't know that you won't show up, I can't offer the time to someone who might really need to be seen and heard. Ok, enough of that.

So, I'm sitting in my office and glanced over at my bookshelf. A book, "Now, Discover Your Strengths" by Marcus Buckingham and Donald O. Clifton just jumps out at me. I had purchased this book many years ago when I worked for a mental health agency in Houston which shall remain nameless at this juncture. Anyway, I worked in sub-mid-managment and had a staff of 8-10 folks. I believe that I created a really good team of therapists by looking at their strengths and playing on these. Anyway, I bought this book to help myself to know them, and me, better. So, today, I began reading it again and I was completely struck by how this weaves in beautifully with The Nurtured Heart Approach to Transforming Difficult Children (see www.difficultchild.com for more information). In NHA, inform, encourage and teach parents to play to the strengths of their children (and significant others). What I've noticed is that many good-intentioned people are challenged to let go of noticing the mistakes, the flaws. They are challenged to notice instead, in a strong and positive way, the good, successful, right moments and deeds of those around them.

The book begins by talking about really influential and successful people who are not 100% "perfect" - instead the book looks at the fact that these folks like Warren Buffet, Tiger Woods and others "deliberately play to his strengths" (p.21) and CHOOSE not to focus on their weaknesses. They are human and have weaknesses, but these are less important when the strengths are spotlighted.

"Discover Your Strength" defines strength as a "consistent and near perfect performance in an activity" (p. 25). I was particularly impressed and reminded that the simplicity, or limitations of our languaging greatly impacts our choices - the majority of our language about human behavior is one of frailty and weakness. Language for our strengths is by comparison, indeed limited.

So, why do we focus on our weaknesses? They draw so many of us as if moths to a flame, which is an interesting visual, isn't it? Per the book, it appears that we view strengths as "just" strengths, admirable and yet not remarkable. On the other hand, a weakness is, or becomes, an "area of opportunity". Without blame, I notice many of us identifying the flaws or mistakes our children make, amplifying these "areas of opportunity" and what do our children hear? They are not hearing about their Greatness, are they? No. They hear repeatedly as we give great energy to their flaws.

And are they 100% flawed? NO they are not. In fact, I challenge you to consider the percentage of "flaw" in yourself, your significant love or your learning, growing, easily-influened child, what would the number be? EVEN if you CHOSE a number like 25 or 50% flawed, that is still 50-75% NOT FLAWED, or, could we, dare we, say "full of strength and Greatness"? Can we say, glass half full? It is all about perspective and I believe that it is not just important, but necessary, to consider a different perspective.

There is definitely much more to be said about this, so check back. As it is, these are just some thoughts. Have a great day.

Where does time go?

It's time to get back into blogging! It's a new year - well into the new year, I might add, and I've had so many thoughts about what to blog. I'm really enjoying my work this year. My work is more of a passion and yet, a passion that has not died out. Have you ever thought about that? We become passionate about things (or people) and then where are we when the passion, or fire, fades? If we are lucky, we've built enough and worked enough to keep things up for the long haul. And life is about work, isn't it? I don't mean the work we do to earn a living but the work that it takes to maintain family and relationship ties, friendships, passion for everyday life. I see so many people and families who are searching and yearning to get back to ...... something and often, they do not know what they are wanting to get back to. I love that I get to help people every single day to remember what they are seeking. More thoughts later.