My Philosophy
When lost in the woods.
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you are not lost.
Wherever you are is called Here, and you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
“I have made this place around you,
If you leave it you may come back again, saying Here.”
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you, you are surely lost.
Stand still. The forest knows where you are. You must let it find you.
Author: a Native American elder (as told to David Wagoner)
Stand still. The trees ahead and bushes beside you are not lost.
Wherever you are is called Here, and you must treat it as a powerful stranger,
Must ask permission to know it and be known.
The forest breathes. Listen. It answers,
“I have made this place around you,
If you leave it you may come back again, saying Here.”
No two trees are the same to Raven.
No two branches are the same to Wren.
If what a tree or a bush does is lost on you, you are surely lost.
Stand still. The forest knows where you are. You must let it find you.
Author: a Native American elder (as told to David Wagoner)
Looking closely at this picture you may see that it is a bucket embedded in a stream. On the side of the bucket is a cup, which the passerby can use to scoop up a drink of refreshing water. As long as the bucket is filled by the stream, there is an abundance that can be drawn from, always leaving the bucket full. The idea of “love bucket” comes from my years of parenting my three sons and teaching them to care for themselves and to be able to notice the signs of a love bucket that is in need of filling. This image has become somewhat of a symbol for what I offer in the therapy experience. I create a warm, safe and nurturing environment, to allow you the opportunity to explore and understand the challenge that life is currently presenting you with.
Most of us spend our lives hiding; pretending and trying to prove something to ourselves and/or others. The other part of our lives is given to longing to be seen! There is something about being seen for who we truly are that is tremendously liberating. Then, there is no need to prove ourselves, no need to hide, no need to pretend to be someone else.
Usually, we are doing the best we can with living the human experience, coping with the lows and celebrating the high points. As long as our skills and abilities are adequate to meet the day to day problems, we continue on, growing and learning as we go. Then, there are the places where our resources seem insufficient for the task at hand. This can result in distress of some kind; usually ending up feeling sad, or afraid or angry. These emotions are part of the human experience but ones we all too often, don’t want to accept.
Usually, we are doing the best we can with living the human experience, coping with the lows and celebrating the high points. As long as our skills and abilities are adequate to meet the day to day problems, we continue on, growing and learning as we go. Then, there are the places where our resources seem insufficient for the task at hand. This can result in distress of some kind; usually ending up feeling sad, or afraid or angry. These emotions are part of the human experience but ones we all too often, don’t want to accept.
A further sign of health is that we don’t become undone by fear
and trembling but we take it as a message that it’s time to stop
struggling and look directly at what’s threatening us.
Pema Chodron
and trembling but we take it as a message that it’s time to stop
struggling and look directly at what’s threatening us.
Pema Chodron
Not facing these uncomfortable emotions can lead to avoidance, maybe even addictions or depression and/or anxiety. We were never meant to deal with these unpredictable life challenges on our own. Often the emotional wounds and psychological injuries happened in an earlier interaction with someone. The healing often must be in the company of a safe and trustworthy person. Humans live a paradox of being alone and yet interconnected. When you have a problem with your car, you call a mechanic. When you have a psychological or emotional issue, you call a psychotherapist! Whatever the
difficulty is, we will explore what it is that you need and how to get that need met.
difficulty is, we will explore what it is that you need and how to get that need met.
We must let go of the life we have planned
so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.
Joseph Campbell
so as to accept the one that is waiting for us.
Joseph Campbell
© 2012-2015 Jeri Lynne Erickson. All Rights Reserved.