I’ve just read an article in the New York Times about social psychologist Ann Cuddy’s research on ‘power poses’ and the effects, not on others, but on one’s self. I recommend reading the article
Last fall, I slipped down some steps and ended up injuring my left foot. Again.
Why am I telling you this? Because at the time of my accident, I was walking without mindfulness, trying to get a number of errands done efficiently before I then went home to get a number of household tasks done before my work week started. Instead of being efficient as I had hoped, my day was derailed by having to attend to a very painful injury. And not only was my day derailed, but the following eight weeks were compromised by the need for crutches and a boot, then just a boot, then slowly walking while wearing sneakers, then being able to transition back into regular shoes–still walking slowly.
I injured the same foot (although in a different way) three years ago, again due to not paying attention to what I was doing. It has been a painful and expensive lesson to re-learn. It is so easy to let my thoughts zip ahead to the next few things to do, ignoring where and what I’m doing in the moment. Mindfulness is not just an abstract concept, it is a profoundly useful lens through which we can view our worlds. And for me, it has been a reminder to SLOW DOWN.
Last month I attended the Third Rocky Mountain Eating Disorder Conference, hosted by The Eating Recovery Center in Denver, Colorado. My goal in attending any professional event is to come away with one specific idea that I bring back to my practice. From this conference, I was struck by the question “what moves you forward?”
I love the framing of the question. The therapist is not imposing her goals or ideas on the person seeking help. Instead the therapist is asking the client to consider her own goals to see what response or reaction may more readily move her in the direction she has said she wants to go. I think the question may allow a client to engage in a conversation about change without feeling pushed into doing something she does not feel capable of doing or ready to try. At the same time, though, the question focuses on the client’s life, her goals, the need for awareness and clarity about what one really desires out of life.
Apply this to yourself: as you go through the events of this day (whenever you might be reading this), try framing decisions through the lens of “what moves me forward right now?”
Who doesn’t want to feel passionate about what they do in their lives? Many wish to be passionate about their work and, for some lucky individuals, they are. Others have jobs that provide financial security or status but perhaps do not engender feelings of passion about what they do. For those individuals, if feeling passion is important, they must search outside of their jobs or careers.
I am grateful to feel passionate about my work as a therapist but I have other passions as well. For instance, I take great pleasure in art. I frequently go to art shows to see how creatively someone has expressed themselves through sculpture or painting or photography. My office and home contain many original artworks that help make my environments stimulating and pleasurable.
I often encourage my clients to observe what they are drawn to—gardening, video gaming, going to movies, volunteering—and see if they can’t develop those interests further, to provide additional meaning to their lives.
Keep checking this post for pictures of the different works of art I’ve found exciting or moving. Even if I do not own the pieces I show here, I definitely appreciate them all.
