Aspire Counseling

Empathy is a way to connect with others that requires us to take the risk of being vulnerable. As Dr. Brené Brown says, Empathy is feeling with people. What a beautiful way to connect to others when they share something difficult. Check out this Dr. Brené Brown video that demonstrates it beautifully: https://youtu.be/1Evwgu369Jw. Empathy is a rare response these days because it challenges us to channel our own difficult feelings. I don’t know about you but I want to grow more in this area.

Parent Workshop!

Parent Workshop!

Parent Workshop!

Parent Work Shop!

Do you ever feel like you have old, deep-rooted beliefs that are stopping you from being who you want to be? For me, I notice it when things in my life are not going smoothly. That’s where some deep-rooted beliefs from my upbringing may not help me but instead keep me stuck in the same pattern. Something I have found helpful is to ask myself during those times, Is believing this helping me or hindering me? Then I am able to try and make a different choice instead of following the same habitual path.

I once heard of a study done to rat pups. They were playing and having a good time as they usually would in the lab. One day was different, however, when a single cat hair was placed in the middle of the rat pup’s area. They all froze. Even after the cat hair was removed, the rat pups were noticeably not as carefree as they once were. They appeared more cautious than before, even in their play. They were never quite the same after experiencing the cat hair. It makes sense; we all have had experiences that have changed us in some way. We, however, don’t have to stay as stuck as the rat pups. What are your cat hairs?

Have you ever noticed a pattern to life? Author Richard Rohr says, It’s true all the time everywhere or it’s not true! And that one truth is always Mystery. If what is true is true everywhere then how comforting it is known that birth, love, connection, community, and resilience can be seen in a million examples all around us every day. You just have to notice.

Reflection. A time to pause and think about what you have been through and have experienced. A time to process how you have been thinking, feeling, behaving, and believing. A time to explore emotions that have been present and evolving. It may be helpful during this week to take 10 minutes everyday to just be. Offer yourself a gift: consciously pause and let your mind wonder to wherever it needs to.

Choices. You have a million choices to make everyday - like a ping ball ball bouncing from one surface to another. We may fear, regret, or reminisce on past choices. That’s why it’s important to stay grounded it what is true, so we don’t forget who we are in the midst of all of our choices. What can you ground yourself in, today?

Hey all parents! Check this parenting group out. If you are interested in attending this one please call to sign up! If you are interested in attending one in the future please let me know! Have a great day.

I once heard someone say, relax and be anxious. Seems like an oxymoron, right? If you really think about it, however, there is strength and courage in allowing yourself to feel how you are feeling in the moment - no matter if it’s anxiety, worry, anger, sadness, etc. We so often want to push it away and feel anything else.