BABY STEPS…

"Look at her go!"

"Is she adorable, or what?"

"Oops!  Down she goes!"

So cute…  Uh huh.

Ever think about how much we applaud those 'baby steps' in our little ones…

And criticize them in ourselves and others when we're older?

What do ya say?  Does this make any sense?

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING - HOLDING ONTO HOPE

Looking for solutions, pathways, answers, is part of how we humans are wired.

Think about the natural curiosity and exploration of a child…

It's okay, when faced with a problem, even if you are told there is no answer, to challenge yourself to re-enter that child-like world, taking pleasure in the search itself rather than the end goal.

When we are open in this way, to continual learning instead of buying into the limited belief in dead ends, we can often stimulate our brain and nervous system to experience the endorphin rush of hope.

DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS                           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun ideas…

INSTEAD OF BUYING INTO THE BELIEF OF LIMITATION AND HOPELESSNESS…

Imagine a world where hope and discovery are an integral ingredient of every day life!

HOPELESS? BAH!

He was anxious and depressed - lets face it - angry and hopeless.

He had a difficult medical condition and was told there was nothing that could be done.  It wasn't fatal, just debilitating with no hope of improvement…

Humans do not do well when faced with a closed door…

Remember Dante's inscription on the gates of hell?

About abandoning all hope?

What do ya say?

You understand that striving - looking for answers - even if we don't find them - is part of what makes us human, right?

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING - SEE IT, SAY IT!

Seeing someone for who they are - their dark places along with their light - doesn't mean we have to throw them in the trash!

Believing this - that seeing negatives in others negates everything else about them - often keeps us from paying attention to behavior that causes us pain!

If we don't recognize what is going on how can we take care of ourselves?

Of course you don't have to hold onto relationships that feel toxic but you also are not mandated to throw away the ones that have some dark spots!

What is crucial is awareness!

Is that person highly competitive?

Do they have a mean streak?

Do they have a need to one-up you?

Do they often put you down?

DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS                           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun ideas…

THINK ABOUT THE PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE…

What do you do when something they say or do causes you discomfort?

Do you recognize it for what it is?

BLAM!

Here's one I hear a lot:

"I've been really down!  I was in a great mood, and then *BLAM* a friend called to say hello … and in the process told me something that really made me feel awful."

"I guess I'm just too sensitive…"

Now, think about this one…

If you're feeling good and talk to someone and then feel rotten, isn't it possible that making you feel bad is at least a teensy, tiny part of their agenda?

What do ya say?

Could you possibly accept this?

How might it change things?

SERIOUSLY SPEAKING - BE REAL!

We know, whether we do it or not - that we should exercise, watch our diets, pay our bills and keep our affairs in order…

But, not only do we think it is unnecessary to 'work out' on an emotional level, we also castigate ourselves and label ourselves as 'weak' or mentally ill if we seek emotional support.

'Something's wrong with me' we scold ourselves, as we explain our need to talk to someone about our state of mind…

This illogical thought pattern often leads to depression and emotional angst!

DANCE WITH IT!   EXPERIENTIAL APPS                           

An opportunity to experiment with some fun ideas…

Imagine a world where emotional health and support was just as 'popular' as physical well being, where a personal mental health trainer was just as accepted as a personal exercise trainer…

Imagine in this world kids not only got physical gym class but also emotional and mental 'gym' class -learning from an early age how to understand their own feelings and those of their friends and families…

Imagine you got all that support throughout your life…

FIX IT!

Hair grows and has to be cut.

Not to mention (ugh!) toenails!

Maintenance is part of life, right?

No question…

So why do we feel so bad when something breaks and needs to be replaced?

And even more…

Why do we think something is wrong with needing to do emotional maintenance?

What do ya say?  Can you accept the fix?