Category: Self Help

You Could Make This Place Beautiful

From “You Could Make This Place Beautiful” by Maggie Smith

I am out with lanterns, looking for myself
– Emily Dickinson

You Could Make This Place BeautifulAs I read this quote from You Could Make This Place Beautiful, I felt as if the Maggie Smith was speaking to my soul. Her beautifully, poetically written verses were emotionally difficult to read, and at the same time, the book was even more challenging to set down.

We are often attracted to what might be difficult for us, yet at the same time we try to distant from it because we don’t want to feel the pain. Deep down we realize that, even if an experience is challenging, facing what’s uncomfortable can ultimately brings us toward healing and growth.

Maggie Smith takes us on a journey of her story, her “tell mine”..

This memoir reminds us to stay present, ever mindful and true to our own experiences. It’s easy lose sight of your own truth when your unintentionally wondering down the path of an outdated story or some else’s version of your story, especially if you’re trying to avoid being hurt or hurting someone else.

If you ask yourself “Where is the beauty when the light is dim?”, remember that your inner wisdom is, as Emily Dickenson long ago observed, the personal lantern that can guide and center you on your journey.

As we keep growing, changing and giving grace we begin to trust ourselves and open ourselves to the very courage that can allow us to catch a glimpses of a beauty that otherwise can seem elusive.

Keep the lantern bright – Find the beauty
journal, take self care, be still, share your “tell mine,” invite hope
allow yourself to dream
trust yourself enough to go out with your lantern and look for yourself
believe in you!

Mental Health Awareness Month
#MoreThanEnough

December Opens To A Wild Heart

As the winter season approaches we anticipate the end of the calendar year.

December is a guidepost to decide how you are going to spend this season of your life. We can choose to redefine and self-direct moments to better align with our value, and create meaning and fulfillment.

Often it’s much more comfortable, and safe to replay an old outdated story year after year.

Taking a risk, being vulernable , living with a wild heart can bring you from a place of lack to abundance.

Honor and take note. Begin to rewrite your story Define what matters to you.
It’s a gift only you give yourself.
Open it! **

You’ll be surprised by the opportunities for healing it has to offer.

 **Look online for worksheets from Hero’s Journey by Joseph Campbell to guide your path

CREATE A LIFE WITH A WILD HEART

Kinda Care Kinda Don’t

First time I saw this saying “Kinda Care  Kinda Don’t” was on a muted pink, white, sage green and rose colored mug sitting on a shelf with several other mugs.

At first glance, the statement on the mug could just be humorous and aloof, yet its message, felt wise and comforting especially during these times in our life when feeling passionate about something has been an unspoken expectation.

Kinda Care Kinda Don’t reminded me of a space without resistance.  A space of letting go. A space of acceptance.

Andy Puddicombe, co-founder of the digital health company Headspace, introduced this concept in his meditation session “Letting Go of Resistance”.  He explains, in this paraphrased quote, that:

“Letting go of resistance is about questioning our default setting (belief system) that life shouldn’t be difficult and should be full of happiness, but life should be exactly like it should be in every given moment.  When we accept that life can be challenging and difficult moments will happen, we suddenly let go of resistance. We accept it with integrity, authenticity, honesty, and knowing that that our perception of that moment will define our experience.”

Kinda Care Kinda Don’t allows us to stay present without tethering thoughts, expectations, or feelings to our experience.

Stay curious. Let go of expectations. You may be surprised how engaged and passionate, not reactive , you’ll feel about what matters to YOU in your life. 

Choose a Life of Fulfillment

“Self- Care is often a very unbeautiful thing. True self-care is not salt baths and chocolate cake, it is making the choice to build a life that you don’t regularly need to escape from.”

– Quote from Brianna Wiser

(Blog post for Thought Catalog)

The warmth of your morning coffee, the stillness of a meditation practice, exploring nature, journaling in the morning or evening hours, reading a really good book, cooking a delicious meal, and interesting conversations are intentional ways of engaging in self-care.

Yet, as we may have experienced, the feelings derived from these activities only last so long. Thoughts, distractions, or stress induced life demands can make it difficult to stay present with these feelings throughout the day.

If you’ve noticed outdated internal messages or habits that are blocking you and keeping you stuck in the same routine – it’s time to ground yourself and reset.

Self-care is making the choice to manifest a life that brings you a sense of fulfillment and joy.

Here are a few steps can you take to build the life you desire.

  • MAKE IT REAL: Start by writing down the one thing you would like to have more in your life.
  • CREATE: Mind Map, Dream board, Journal, Mind- Body Connection with Yoga or share your aspirations with someone  supportive.
  • VISUALIZE: Each day set time aside to imagine and feel that aspect of your life as a reality.
  • INQUIRE: Ask yourself “What small, achievable step do I need take to begin the process?”
  • CELEBRATE: Celebrate the victory of awareness. Stay unattached to the outcome. Be present in this moment.

Sometimes during this process thoughts of self-doubt, personal fears, or a victim mentality may surface.

Allow ~ Breathe ~ Take Rest

Self-care is a journey towards wellness, personal growth, trusting yourself, and healing.

Define what you want, check in with your needs, make it real, take a small step, give grace, stay in the moment. Your awareness will open your heart to the possibilities and actionable steps to living authentically!

Create The Life You Desire

WE’RE IN THIS TOGETHER

** Revitalize Counseling has no affiliation with the web links provided. The links are for your reference only.

Campfires create community and bring people together

The orange light and crackling of the timber invite us to be present and relax into each moment. Campfires remind me of stories that unfold under the stars. These exchanges are snuggled in between blankets of quiet contemplation, conversation, and playful moments of laughter.

As the winter days seem so long and as the pandemic quarantine feels even longer now is the time to rekindle the warmth and magic spark of the campfire.

Allow campfire memories to ignite your own internal fire to feel connected, inspired and motivated this season.
  • The memory of laughter motivates us to find joy and gratitude in life.
  • The memory of storytelling motivates us to manifest what we want in life.
  • The memory of solace ignites staying present with our own inner awareness.

When we add these symbolic logs or memories (laughter, storytelling, solace) to our internal flame we let go of the need for outside entertainment to motivate us and open to “inner attainment”. This “inner attainment” inspires us to gain a deeper sense of connection with ourselves and the world around us. Take time alone, to BE. Light a candle, turn inward and pause.

If you are interested in connecting with a larger community,

I invite you to check out

Eat Breathe Thrive’s Virtual Campfire Social Events 

Engage in meaningful conversations about aspects of the human experience each month.

https://www.eatbreathethrive.org/near-you/detroit

(under all events tab)

 

The Revitalize Counseling Community will also be hosting

Eat Breathe Thrive Detroit Virtual 6 Week Series

Sunday, February 21st – March 28th from 10:00 am – 12:00 noon.

Eat Breathe Thrive

We are creating a community through a unique program that involves discussion, mindfulness, interactive exercises and yoga.

This will help to cultivate a more compassionate relationship with food, your body and yourself.

Lessons of a Falling Leaf & The Whispers of Autumn

“When you think you’ve surrendered, surrender some more.”
~Gabby Bernstein

As the autumn approaches lean in and allow yourself to let go of what does not serve you anymore. Surrender to the season – experience its beauty. Take a moment to learn from nature as you gaze upon a leaf as it falls from a branch.

The tree is in essence letting go of a part of itself that served a purpose. Yet now in this changing season the foliage descends gracefully – letting go – weaving itself into a rich and colorful tapestry upon the earth which will provide infinite opportunities for renewal especially during these trying times.

Feeling Drained? Revitalize Yourself!

I recently read a “Guide To Detox During A Crisis For Energy” by Rosie Acousta ~ Radically Loved and thought this could be a reset for when we feel depleted. Since everyone copes differently, this is another restorative tool to help us boost our immunity. We will feel resilient and empowered to tap into the best version of ourselves.

Her guide includes giving up something that doesn’t serve you anymore to gain more energy. It is a suggestion to motivate you in the direction of setting an intention and creating daily rituals for detoxing any people, places or things that drain energy.

So, taking action by letting go of something that doesn’t serve you can be incorporated with qualities you already possess!

When we connect wellness to our body, spirit and emotional sides we feel centered and fulfilled. Some areas might call us to direct more energy to feel revitalized and some may just require patience and self-compassion during time of uncertainty.

Reasons to Consider Private Pay vs Health Care Insurance

Opinion: Why I Don’t Take Insurance for Mental Health Services

Provide April 1, 2013 by Linda Oxford of Awakening Health

You should have control over your therapy. You and I, in consultation, decide what you are here to work on, how to proceed and when you have achieved your purpose. Insurance companies dictate what they will pay for and how long they will pay. They rely on “evidence based practices” and their estimation of how long it should take for a treatment to “work.” If it takes longer or you require a different treatment, they may or may not allow it, whether or not you are better. Paying for your therapy keeps you in control of your process.

Your privacy is important. When you use insurance to pay for counseling, I must provide the insurer with a diagnosis and reports on your progress. Thus, the confidentiality of the work we do is breached. The diagnosis will stay on your medical record, even if it wasn’t truly warranted (see next point, below). And you may experience what some call diagnosis “blowback,” a future negative consequence of having a diagnosis on your record (like higher premiums, for example).

A diagnosis isn’t always a good thing. People often come to counseling to get help with an issue that they haven’t been able to resolve themselves. These situations are not pathalogical and don’t warrant a diagnosis. When a diagnosis is provided just so the counselor can get paid, it can become one more negative thing with which the client identifies and can actually create another roadblock to getting better. In other words, diagnosis can be harmful to the client and may be unethical.

So even though it may seem more economical and convenient to use insurance for mental health care, you may want to consider the long term and negative consequences as well as the short term benefit.

Holiday Cravings - Self Help

Holidays Cravings

Here is how to answer your cravings after the holidays!

Celebrating food is in abundance during the holiday season. When we indulge in its richness during this season, it can be difficult to break habits that perpetuate the cycle. In order to “get back on track” we often look outside of ourselves to refocus. For example, external influences that motivate us maybe the beginning of new calendar year, returning to our daily work schedule, listening to health-based advertising such as promotions for local gym memberships, and watching others through social media act on their new year’s resolutions.

Creating new habits and reclaiming a path to nurture our soul through self discovery is not about appeasing cravings with instant gratification or external influences. One must be courageous and brave enough to look inward and trust ourselves.

So what is our mind, body and soul really craving?

Pause, breathe, let go. The answer already lies within us. Hold space for yourself. Listen. It is possible to feed your soul with a healthy appetite of your own internal wisdom. By tapping into emotional reflection, intellectual growth, physical well-being and spiritual awareness we can naturally and holistically feel fulfilled! (and even splurge with an extra topping of joyfulness)

Approach Life As You Do The Weather

The weather this February has been a unique month in Michigan. Some days were 60 degrees while hours or days later were 30 degrees with snow. I paused to think what I can learn from nature to help guide me during times in our lives that FEEL uncertain and we experience anxiety. I have come to the conclusion when I reflect on our seasonal weather is that seasons are consistent, temperature is expected, but ultimately the daily experience is unpredictable.

So how can this observation be helpful?

If most people tend to feel most anxious during transition times, such as divorce, “ not feeling good enough,” attempting to try new experiences, job change, a loss or just stepping outside your comfort zone, then why not attempt to approach life as we would experiencing the temperature outside? We are aware that these moments are consistent, expected and the outcome may be unpredictable. Yet we tend to be surprised and anxious when these moments arise.

Why not listen to your inner wisdom of “knowing” and to approach everyday with wonder. Life can FEEL uncertain, but instead of turning away from it, lean in…. use the think about your anxiety as positive energy in our bodies. Just breathe and flow with the adventure! Trust that you can embrace these times toward empowerment and personal growth. Take a moment to view anxiety differently, with gratitude, and take the opportunity each day to ask yourself when you feel anxious: What can learn? How can I grow? And what can I celebrate? These questions were presented to me years ago during a yoga practice and I would like to share this perspective as well.

Sidebar