Bend Don't Break
Flexibility is a sign of resilience. Think of tree branches after a heavy Maine snow storm. Those that bend will not break under the weight.
How flexible you are may depend on the situation--and how important you believe something is. You may feel flexible or even indifferent to some "curve balls" in life, but react very strongly to other events.
What are some clues you may be at risk of "snapping" in reaction to something unexpected, or in the face of a situation that doesn't go your way? You can check in with your thoughts and words. Are you insistent about what "must" happen next? Are you personalizing a situation or interpreting it as unfair?
Our bodies also often contain clues. Physical tension may accompany rigid beliefs. Notice where the tension is occurring, and how your breathing is affected.
A useful counseling goal can be to examine where your thoughts and beliefs are the least flexible. Learn how to recognize where your "all or nothing" thinking occurs, and to how to expand your thinking and responsiveness in those areas.
And remember: the best time to grow your emotional flexibility is now--not when the Nor'Easter starts to blow!
Lori Tully - Offering "coach like" therapy to clients in the greater Portland, Maine, area.
How flexible you are may depend on the situation--and how important you believe something is. You may feel flexible or even indifferent to some "curve balls" in life, but react very strongly to other events.
What are some clues you may be at risk of "snapping" in reaction to something unexpected, or in the face of a situation that doesn't go your way? You can check in with your thoughts and words. Are you insistent about what "must" happen next? Are you personalizing a situation or interpreting it as unfair?
Our bodies also often contain clues. Physical tension may accompany rigid beliefs. Notice where the tension is occurring, and how your breathing is affected.
A useful counseling goal can be to examine where your thoughts and beliefs are the least flexible. Learn how to recognize where your "all or nothing" thinking occurs, and to how to expand your thinking and responsiveness in those areas.
And remember: the best time to grow your emotional flexibility is now--not when the Nor'Easter starts to blow!
Lori Tully - Offering "coach like" therapy to clients in the greater Portland, Maine, area.