The Balanced Life, Huntsville Alabama

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest one of all?  Sound familiar?  The evil Queen in Disney’s Snow White repeated this every day, and every day that the mirror replied “You, oh Queen!” she was happy as could be.

“Every day in every way, I am getting better and better!” (Emile Coué)

 Isn’t this what so many of us want this January? This new year? In this brand new decade?

As we embark on the New Year, we also enter into a new decade. For some, this has no significance at all, but for others there is extra motivation to make positive changes—especially those who are raising kids in this new decade.

I often have clients request more frequent appointments around the holidays. They report increased pressure at work, family stress, and feelings of being overwhelmed. While we see the holiday season advertised as a time for celebration and joy, this can actually be a very difficult time for many people. This can be a time when we focus on everything except our own well being. So, with this in mind, here are a few self care tips for the holiday season. 

Have you ever wondered what your therapist REALLY thinks about you?  Or what they are writing on their little note pad during sessions?  I’m here today to reveal the secrets, although they aren’t really secrets. 

“There’s just not enough time in the day.” You likely have heard that a time or two [hundred], and you may have felt that way yourself since entering adulthood.

There are a lot of misconceptions about self-care. Unfortunately, it’s a word that’s become overused and carries with it an unmistakable negative stigma.

The month of October is ushered in by cheerful scarecrows, colorful foliage, and pumpkin spice everything! Wreaths and mums in shades of burnt orange, red, and goldenrod decorate porches festively. But there is another symbol and one other significant color that are synonymous with October: bright pink and the breast cancer awareness ribbon.

I had this week’s blog written and ready to submit prior to now.  And then a most horrific thing happened yesterday morning that has gripped my emotions so tight that I have to write a new one this Saturday morning. 

Hope is characterized as a feeling of expectation and desire for something to happen. Throughout our lives, we have all felt hopeful about something happening, but also a lack of hope when going through tough times. On a deeper level, hope can bridge the past and future and instill motivation and confidence in us that our lives can improve. Conversely, feeling hopeless about the future can lead us to sadness and despair, which could eventually lead to depression.

While hope itself can be a very powerful concept, I have seen many clients who solely rely on this idea that “things will hopefully get better”, without taking any action or responsibility to make a change in their lives. They hope that they make a better grade on their next test, or meet their soulmate, or finally stop drinking. I believe having a positive mindset of hope can be one of the most positive tools of changing your life; however, my suggestion is to fully embrace the feeling of hope emotionally, but also take action behaviorally. So, can you hope for change and change with hope at the same time? Absolutely. Here are just a few ideas on how to bridge the gap between these two and how I’ve used them in therapy sessions with clients.

Looking at life holistically. I have seen clients get caught up in a present struggle with a lack of focus on the past and how they persevered through those trying times.

Each day I talk with clients who are struggling to make a change. They want to leave a job they hate or end toxic relationship, or they want to go back to college or ask someone out on a date. They give lots of reasons why they can’t or haven’t…but it all boils down to one core feeling. Fear.

Lily enters the house after school, darts upstairs, and slams her bedroom door before you can even get “how was your day” remotely out of your mouth. Ever since she turned 15, it’s like you two are worlds apart.