Fear is healthy when it warns us of an immediate and impending danger, the need to be cautious or take preventative measures. Danger can take on many different forms. In my last blog I mentioned just a few: driving or walking alone in areas that are unsafe or high risk, walking to your car alone…
Posts Categorized: The Counselor Is In
Healthy Fear
Every day we take steps somewhere. When faced with taking the next step out of an unwanted change or away from a bad situation, we are often fearful because we are stepping into unknown territory – we’ve never been there before. Fear is a good thing. But when it keeps us from exploring new options for our…
Three Intimidating Emotions
What keeps us from taking the next step out of adversity, loss or unwanted change? Often it is fear along with its brothers and sisters, anger and anxiety. The only way to deal with challenging and difficult emotions is to confront them head on. The first step in moving forward is to acknowledge your fears,…
Soar Like an Eagle
“I am excited about life and the wonderful discoveries I am making about myself and the possibilities and potential for my future.” On Monday, I challenged you to make the above affirmation a mindset as you turn adversity into an opportunity. The possibilities for a new and wonderful life are limitless. But we do need…
Bridging the Gap
A bridge takes you from one side of a divide to another. When we are transitioning from a loss we need to build a bridge from our ending to a new beginning. For those of you who subscribe to my FREE monthly newsletters on this series, The Next Step, you have received additional information, strategies…
Peace
“And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7 (New Oxford Annotated Bible) Peace. One moment our spirits are dejected and depressed – the next we are feeling at peace. What changes have occurred to create this difference? When losses run deep and grief…
My Special Place
The sun is streaming through my window this morning. I know it is still cold outdoors, but my fireplace warms my heart as it warms my bedroom. Patterns of light and shadow form on the walls, creating pieces of moving art as the wind rustles the trees outside. I snuggle deeper into my chair with…
University of Life
The University of Life hands us some tough assignments. When those life assignments are filled with pain, we try to avoid it or get through it as fast as possible. We don’t like to be in pain and will often do anything to avoid it. We use alcohol or prescription drugs to deaden its effect or escape addressing it –…
Endings
Endings are about closing a door. It’s crossing that River Jordan into a new world. You are not going back. That can be scary because we know the desert we are in. Losses are endings that close a chapter in our life. We usually don’t want to make that ending and we hold the door…
Path – What Path?
Before we take a trip, we have a destination in mind – we know where we are going, when we will leave and estimated time of arrival. We have considered the best route and what we need to take with us. The trip of life, however, isn’t quite so easy. Sometimes it seems we keep…