Our mind is so very powerful. It dictates our mood. Our choices in life. Our sense of fulfilment. And whether we see the world as fearful and negative or welcoming and exciting.
We visit the gym to keep physically fit. We visit a physio if we need to adjust or heal our body. We spend fortunes on beauty products and treatments to look and feel good on the outside.
But what about how we feel on the inside? What about the choices we’ve made? The people we’ve attracted? Our thinking habits? Our behaviours? How we feel about ourselves and the world around us?
How important is that to you and how much does it affect your life?
This sense of self and the way we view the world develops from our childhood environment and experiences. The messages we were given from caregivers, peers and family members from birth to adulthood. It shapes how we see ourselves. And it’s all unconscious.
So, we go through life making certain choices. Attracting certain people and circumstances. And developing certain thinking habits based on our unconscious view of ourselves and the world.
We may feel unhappy, or unfulfilled. We may choose the same destructive relationships. We may hate ourselves or feel we are not good enough. We may constantly strive for perfection. Or we may be forever trying to please people and getting nowhere. Maybe we just feel restless and out of sorts. Knowing that something isn’t right but we’re not sure what. But we just carry on doing what we’re doing because it’s all we know.
We live our lives in this constant loop of frustration or unfulfillment and we’re not sure WHY.
So, we may end up medicating ourselves either with prescription drugs or alcohol, or recreational drugs to mask these feelings. Or keep busy and distracted through work or shopping or social media or over-exercising.
You know, it doesn’t have to be like this…
Giving ourselves the gift of therapy is the key to start making these unconscious thoughts, behaviours and patterns conscious. The gift of therapy raises our awareness of the behaviours, patterns and beliefs about ourselves and others we adopted as a child to keep us safe. Therapy also helps us understand why we may be hard on ourselves and have low self-esteem.
Shining a light on this empowers us. It gives us control of our thoughts and actions. It enables us to start making choices to ditch the old patterns and behaviours that no longer serve us in our adult lives. It enables us to choose a different way to view and live our lives moving forward.
And it helps us learn to accept and embrace every part of the unique, wonderful individual that we are.
Giving ourselves the gift of therapy can reduce anxiety. Help us recover from depression. It can increase our self-esteem and get to know who we really are. It can help us manage loss. And understand what is behind our addictions. And it can help us find meaning and purpose in our lives.
The gift of therapy can help us introduce boundaries and choose healthier relationships. It can show us the importance of voicing our needs. And understand our values and priorities.
The gift of therapy can help us understand the importance of emotions. It can help us see ourselves and the world from different perspectives. It’s thought provoking, enlightening and can be really challenging and difficult.
It takes courage to face our life story so far, and some of the choices we have made. And it takes courage to start making life changes. But the alternative is to choose to stay stuck and keep doing what we’re doing. Which is still a choice.
So, if you’re curious and want to learn more about who you are. And the choices you’ve made. And you wish to make some changes in your life but you’re not sure how or why.
And if you wish to start living a happier, more fulfilling life.
Give yourself the gift of therapy. It may be the most valuable and life-changing gift you ever receive.
Warmest wishes
To learn more
Call: +44 (0)7767 658568
Marie is a BACP qualified counsellor and psychotherapist whose mission is to help you live a happier, more fulfilled life. If you would like to learn more, or are wondering if therapy is the right choice for you, please get in touch for a free 30 minute free telephone consultation.