Our changing thoughts and feelings

As I was doing my morning run I was thinking about how our feelings and thoughts are continually changing. What this means is that the way we feel one moment always shifts. When I work with clients who are depressed, it is common for them to think that nothing will ever change. When we start to become aware of all our passing thoughts and feelings we can start to see that everything changes. The sad feelings will change and shift.
What great news! We can always feel better.

Start noticing your thoughts and how they shift and change. You don't have to do anything, you don't have to judge anything... just notice... Always notice

More thoughts on Perseverance

I continue to think about how important it is to "continue trying". So many times we may want to give up, but the difference between success and failure may be that last push... But sometimes, and this is catch, sometimes, no matter how much we try, we may not be able to win. We may not be able to win the job, win the relationship... So what do we do then?...... Well, many years ago, when I was an undergraduate at San Francisco State I worked for a local newspaper selling advertising. I remember going over to my boss and being very frustrated... "They don't want to buy the ad space!", I said, after all my hard work... My boss looked at me squarely and said, "Good, now you know they don't want it, move on to someone else!!"
I learned something very important that day. Perseverance is so vital but at some point you have to let go and move on!

I am alive and so are you

I was awakened this morning by a single bird singing and as I ran on my morning run I thought about this bird and how it signified a wonderful thing- I am alive! How often do we forget about this fact, take it for granted, when it is the most important thing we have. This life. As I run on my favorite fire road I see tree after tree - they have been there for a long time. They have been viewed by so many people. How many times you have passed a tree, thinking about what is wrong in your life, thinking about your problems and forgot to look at the most important thing... your life...your aliveness. Go outside today and find a tree, any tree, it doesn't matter and see the tree, its leaves, any birds on the tree, and think- It is life and I am alive. I do this often and it grounds me and places me in the present moment. Try it.

More thoughts on perseverance

As I was running this morning I was thinking about how important Exercise has been in my life. In fact, I think it saved my life. 35 years ago I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease. You probably know someone who has this autoammune disorder. Since that time I have been exercising regularly. Everyone talks about how exercise is great for keeping fit and of course this is true but there is substantial research that shows that exercise can help decrease disease and increase your health, both physically and mentally. I know this personally.
And getting back to perseverance- well..... I remember MANY times when I was feeling fatigued and in discomfort and I exercised anyway. I ALWAYS felt better. I persevered. When I assist my clients with developing successful WAYS of being, they can be assured I have tried and used all the tools and successfully myself. If I can do it they can! And they do.How cool!

Perseverance

I was thinking about the importance of perseverance in the face of difficult times. When we are overwhelmed with losses or difficult circumstances in our lives we may want to literally roll up in a ball and do nothing. It is much like "playing dead" that an animal might do when they are attacked. Playing dead, or rolling up in a ball are actually survival mechanisms! But when we are inactive for too long it is simply not a Successful survival mechanism. That is why Perseverance in the face of difficulty is so important.
When there is depression and sadness, one important way that a therapist like myself can diagnose this is asking the question, " Are you less active that you used to be, are you less motivated to get up and move to be involved with life?" We want to roll up in a ball, we want to lay in bed. This may be happening to you right now.
But when you persevere and get up anyway, and keep trying and keep Learning, you can feel better. I know this up and close personal.
Think of this word today and how you can keep on trying.