by Miriam | Jul 15, 2014 | Uncategorized
I recently finished some training in EMDR, a trauma protocol for therapy. I had begun part one in April, and had offered to several people to work with them via this modality. Very few took me up on it. This last weekend, I finished the training, and it is now much clearer in my mind, not only how this works, but also THAT it works. Interestingly enough, I have already had five people ask for my help with this in the last three days.
What is the difference? Yes, I do believe that people come to the awareness that they are now in a different place and this could be helpful.
But, more importantly, I think something has changed within ME and now I am presenting it differently. Perhaps with more confidence or persuasiveness … there is more trust between the other people and myself now.
Every place of growth requires readiness.
You can't hear what you can't hear, even if it is being said. Loudly. Repeatedly. It doesn't matter until you are ready. And then, all-of-a-sudden, it makes sense and there is now forward movement.
I wonder if that is why Jesus had words to say about, "If they have ears, let them hear." (Matt 11:15, 13:9, Mark 4:9 [and 4 other places], and John says it in Rev 2:29, 3:22)?
Or, conversely, "Do not cast pearl before swine" – i.e there's no point talking to someone about a topic they don't value.
It's all about being ready.
by Miriam | Jul 14, 2014 | Uncategorized
I recently completed a training for a new modality of therapy, which, of course required me to do "practice sessions" with the other trainees, both as the therapist and also as the client.
Without getting into all the details of how this modality works, at times, the processing gets "stuck" and one of the interventions utilized is to invite an ally into your internal world to help the processing shift.
I saw how powerful this invitation can be, when I was in the client chair and found myself completely unable to move forward. The practicing therapist had already tried several other interventions, to no avail. The supervisor asked about requesting someone I trusted and someone and who felt safe into the mix.
It was nothing short of amazing – within seconds of asking this person into the scene in my head, the picture / movie of what I was working on became "unstuck" and there was a good bit of resolution that occurred.
People who are in your court, who have your back – they are so much more vital that we can even imagine. This holds true, whether in real time, or in your mind's eye. We need each other.
by Miriam | Jul 13, 2014 | Uncategorized
When you are fried, like a piece of bacon, If you try to do too much in the ensuing moments, you will break (because your resilience has been crisped)
Do some self-care.
Three eight-hour-trainings in a row … and I am beyond bacon.
So, I planned nothing for the next 24 hours. Or almost next-to-nothing. I have a friend who was also at the training who's whole next day is scheduled out with people. She seemed almost despondent. I told her to reschedule all those people. She brightened considerably at the thought.
Now we'll see if false guilt prevents her from giving herself time to recharge, or if her courage and strength prevails and she actually reschedules those folks.
Put your own mask on first.
by Miriam | Jul 12, 2014 | Uncategorized
We watched an old movie, which, at the conclusion, my son said, "Well, that was cool and all, but I have to ask … what was the plot?"
You can go to great efforts and be lavish, but if the other person doesn't understand what you are trying to say …
it's a fruitless effort; all for naught.
Better to be understood that to be extravagant, loud, pushy, right, the winner, etcetera.
Without understanding, there is no connection. And from where I sit, without this, there is no point.
by Miriam | Jul 11, 2014 | Uncategorized
Some people are like a heavy backpack to carry.
They don't necessarily stop you, but they make every step an effort. And if you have to scale a mountain, they seriously raise your heart-rate and make you want to quit every step of the way.
Others, instead of taking energy, GIVE energy. They make your projects better. They say, "I love this idea – how can I help?" They give your vision wings. They actually bring out a better version of you.
Question- if you are honest and have the courage to answer: Which one are you?
by Miriam | Jul 10, 2014 | Uncategorized
A friend recently shared a line from a song:
"We are just all walking one another Home."
And her comment/ question to us (as there were several of us there):
What does this mean to people who have no frame of reference for God?
It was a question worth asking, especially as she knew the artist did not openly profess any faith.
What is Home for you? – not little "h" – where you live, your family, the familiar surroundings. I don't even think the composer meant medium "h" like your values or your friends. It seems to me the artist was speaking capital "H" Home. The place your soul recognizes as Belonging. Acceptance. Recognition. You are Welcomed. In.
While I cannot comment on any other faith tradition, I can comment that this is exactly what Jesus set out to do (and accomplished) – He created a way for us to come Home into the Presence of God. And there, because of my relationship with Him, I am Welcomed. Invited. Desired. I Belong.
I am Home.
