05/01/12
PRO BONO COUNSELING
I remember trying to refer one of my pro bono clients to a psychologist that I had sent many paying referrals. I presented the desperateness of the case, provided a financial picture, and asked if he could see her pro bono. I asked him to think about it overnight, saying “I know you will agree what we do isn’t about money, it is about helping people heal.” After thinking about it over night, he called to say he couldn’t take the client, adding “It is about the money, MAx.”
When I started my practice over a decade ago, my partner at the time and I agreed that we would each have three pro bono slots. We did this because we recognized not everyone had the resources to pay for care, and, the public health system had huge waiting lists. When the economy fell in 2008, two more pro bono spots were added. Because I am so busy through the week, I have always considered my pro bono slots my community service—my way of giving back to my community.
I have talked with many of my colleagues that are in the same field (addiction treatment) and other wellness practices (psychology, coaching, etc) that disagree about pro bono services. Many of them said, as part of their education, they were told to “not give your services away”, or, “people that don’t pay for their services don’t appreciate it and don’t get better.”
WOW! What can I say to that?
I agree that there are clients in my field of addiction that may not appreciate “free” services, but access them because they are mandated. I never allocate a pro bono slot to someone that is mandated or is involved in a litigation.
Also, I also refer to my pro bono slots with my clients as “scholarships”—after all, I am usually providing the scholarship from my income. I will start them with ten scholarship sessions; then, observe if they are doing the work to heal. On the tenth session we decide if they want to continue, if they are in a position to pay, or, if I need to extend the scholarship. For the most part, they agree they want to pay something, even if it is $10 per session.
I am also a great resource person, so I can help my clients access services that will help them get their needs met. Many times, the “scholarships” I present to them help them stay in a holding pattern until a slot at an agency opens.
Sorry, I disagree with whoever the scholars are teaching wellness practitioners that the poor won’t heal because they don’t pay.
What is your opinion?
Respond to this blog, or e-mail me at maxfabry@lifestylechangescounseling.com
Learn more about me at: www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
Proud member of HealerToday.com
I remember trying to refer one of my pro bono clients to a psychologist that I had sent many paying referrals. I presented the desperateness of the case, provided a financial picture, and asked if he could see her pro bono. I asked him to think about it overnight, saying “I know you will agree what we do isn’t about money, it is about helping people heal.” After thinking about it over night, he called to say he couldn’t take the client, adding “It is about the money, MAx.”
When I started my practice over a decade ago, my partner at the time and I agreed that we would each have three pro bono slots. We did this because we recognized not everyone had the resources to pay for care, and, the public health system had huge waiting lists. When the economy fell in 2008, two more pro bono spots were added. Because I am so busy through the week, I have always considered my pro bono slots my community service—my way of giving back to my community.
I have talked with many of my colleagues that are in the same field (addiction treatment) and other wellness practices (psychology, coaching, etc) that disagree about pro bono services. Many of them said, as part of their education, they were told to “not give your services away”, or, “people that don’t pay for their services don’t appreciate it and don’t get better.”
WOW! What can I say to that?
I agree that there are clients in my field of addiction that may not appreciate “free” services, but access them because they are mandated. I never allocate a pro bono slot to someone that is mandated or is involved in a litigation.
Also, I also refer to my pro bono slots with my clients as “scholarships”—after all, I am usually providing the scholarship from my income. I will start them with ten scholarship sessions; then, observe if they are doing the work to heal. On the tenth session we decide if they want to continue, if they are in a position to pay, or, if I need to extend the scholarship. For the most part, they agree they want to pay something, even if it is $10 per session.
I am also a great resource person, so I can help my clients access services that will help them get their needs met. Many times, the “scholarships” I present to them help them stay in a holding pattern until a slot at an agency opens.
Sorry, I disagree with whoever the scholars are teaching wellness practitioners that the poor won’t heal because they don’t pay.
What is your opinion?
Respond to this blog, or e-mail me at maxfabry@lifestylechangescounseling.com
Learn more about me at: www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
Proud member of HealerToday.com
10/10/11
DEPRESSION AND BI POLAR: DEPRESSION VS SADNESS
This is a reprint from the Depression and Bipolar support Alliance (DBSA) OR Nov/Dec, 2011, Newsletter. DBSA OR has released rights to Lifestyle Changes Counseling for this reprint:
______________________________________________________________
Depression and Bipolar
Support Alliance
We’ve Been There. We Can Help.
REACH OUT OREGON
November – December, 2011
Is Your Sadness Normal? We've all felt blue, brokenhearted, and bummed out — but how can you tell the difference between natural sadness and depression?
By Chris Iliades, MD, Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
Everyone experiences bouts of sadness. In fact, sadness is a completely normal and healthy response to life’s inevitable adversities — layoffs, breakups, breakdowns. Depression, on the other hand, is a serious condition that often requires treatment.
Feeling down and feeling depressed share similar symptoms, but clinical depression is the term that doctors use to describe a chemical imbalance that results from a combination of possible causes (including your genes, your brain chemicals, and your emotions). And though depression can be triggered by many of the same events that cause normal sadness, it is an illness that requires treatment — not just an emotional reaction.
How can you tell the difference?
"The difference between normal sadness and depression is in the duration and intensity," says Irina Firstein, LCSW, a mental health counselor in New York City. “Sadness is a normal human reaction to an event or experience that is unwanted, painful, or unfortunate. Usually these feelings will lessen or lift with the passage of time, processing of the event, and seeing it in perspective or as a continuum of life.”
Tearfulness Triggers: What Makes Us Sad?
Why do we get bummed out? “Rejection by an important person in one's life, being passed over for a promotion, not getting the job one was hoping for — these can all lead to a sense of sadness,” says Firstein. “Usually sad feelings will last a few days or maybe a week, and during this time a person is able to function normally in their life, fulfill duties and tasks or daily activities, eat, sleep, and coexist with others."
These common sadness scenarios can certainly invoke tears — but some of them may also put you at risk for depression:
•The death of a loved one. Grief is a process that everyone must work their way through at some point in their lives. It may take years — but grief does not normally lead to clinical depression.
•Bad breakups. A breakup or a divorce — even the loss of a friendship — can lead to feelings of loneliness, and split-ups have actually been shown to potentially trigger episodes of depression.
•Job loss. Beyond feelings of rejection, losing your job can lead to financial stress and can send your self-esteem through the wringer. And this combination of pressure, sadness, and anxiety may also lead to depression, says Firstein.
•Bad health. Prolonged illness and chronic pain commonly lead to isolation and loss of independence. While these stressors are especially common in the elderly, it’s important to know that depression is not a normal part of aging.
•Seasonal sadness. Winter blues are a common cause of sadness in younger people who live in northern climates. Also called seasonal affective disorder, winter blues is a type of sadness that usually clears up with exposure to sunshine.
When Does Normal Sadness Turn Into Depression?
"When feelings of normal sadness or winter blues don't go away and, in fact, get deeper and more intense, and there is a difficulty or major effort in carrying out daily activities, they can be signs of depression," warns Firstein.
If you have five or more of these symptoms for at least two weeks, you could be at risk for depression.
•Extreme restlessness or anxiety
Big changes in your weight or appetite
•Constant fatigue
•Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
•Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
•Loss of interest in normal activities
•Inability to think clearly
•Trouble sleeping
•Thoughts of death or suicide
How to Get Beyond Depression
"If you’re getting mired in a long-lasting sadness, it’s a good idea to pay attention,” says Firstein. “Aside from seeking professional help, you should talk to those close to you about what you are feeling, try to understand your feelings, and to make sense of them,” she says.
These tips may also help:
•Get plenty of sleep.
•Increase your exercise routine.
•Avoid drugs and alcohol.
•Postpone important decisions.
•Be patient with yourself and set reasonable goals.
Sadness is a completely normal reaction that begins to fade over time — it should not keep you from functioning and behaving normally. And remember: It will get better. But if you think you have symptoms of depression, it’s important to ask for help. With the right treatment, depression will get better, too.
___________________________________________________
To learn more about LIFESTYLE CHANGES COUNSELING SERVCES please go to:
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
LIFESTYLE CHANGES COUNSELING SERVCES is a member in good standing with
This is a reprint from the Depression and Bipolar support Alliance (DBSA) OR Nov/Dec, 2011, Newsletter. DBSA OR has released rights to Lifestyle Changes Counseling for this reprint:
______________________________________________________________
Depression and Bipolar
Support Alliance
We’ve Been There. We Can Help.
REACH OUT OREGON
November – December, 2011
Is Your Sadness Normal? We've all felt blue, brokenhearted, and bummed out — but how can you tell the difference between natural sadness and depression?
By Chris Iliades, MD, Medically reviewed by Lindsey Marcellin, MD, MPH
Everyone experiences bouts of sadness. In fact, sadness is a completely normal and healthy response to life’s inevitable adversities — layoffs, breakups, breakdowns. Depression, on the other hand, is a serious condition that often requires treatment.
Feeling down and feeling depressed share similar symptoms, but clinical depression is the term that doctors use to describe a chemical imbalance that results from a combination of possible causes (including your genes, your brain chemicals, and your emotions). And though depression can be triggered by many of the same events that cause normal sadness, it is an illness that requires treatment — not just an emotional reaction.
How can you tell the difference?
"The difference between normal sadness and depression is in the duration and intensity," says Irina Firstein, LCSW, a mental health counselor in New York City. “Sadness is a normal human reaction to an event or experience that is unwanted, painful, or unfortunate. Usually these feelings will lessen or lift with the passage of time, processing of the event, and seeing it in perspective or as a continuum of life.”
Tearfulness Triggers: What Makes Us Sad?
Why do we get bummed out? “Rejection by an important person in one's life, being passed over for a promotion, not getting the job one was hoping for — these can all lead to a sense of sadness,” says Firstein. “Usually sad feelings will last a few days or maybe a week, and during this time a person is able to function normally in their life, fulfill duties and tasks or daily activities, eat, sleep, and coexist with others."
These common sadness scenarios can certainly invoke tears — but some of them may also put you at risk for depression:
•The death of a loved one. Grief is a process that everyone must work their way through at some point in their lives. It may take years — but grief does not normally lead to clinical depression.
•Bad breakups. A breakup or a divorce — even the loss of a friendship — can lead to feelings of loneliness, and split-ups have actually been shown to potentially trigger episodes of depression.
•Job loss. Beyond feelings of rejection, losing your job can lead to financial stress and can send your self-esteem through the wringer. And this combination of pressure, sadness, and anxiety may also lead to depression, says Firstein.
•Bad health. Prolonged illness and chronic pain commonly lead to isolation and loss of independence. While these stressors are especially common in the elderly, it’s important to know that depression is not a normal part of aging.
•Seasonal sadness. Winter blues are a common cause of sadness in younger people who live in northern climates. Also called seasonal affective disorder, winter blues is a type of sadness that usually clears up with exposure to sunshine.
When Does Normal Sadness Turn Into Depression?
"When feelings of normal sadness or winter blues don't go away and, in fact, get deeper and more intense, and there is a difficulty or major effort in carrying out daily activities, they can be signs of depression," warns Firstein.
If you have five or more of these symptoms for at least two weeks, you could be at risk for depression.
•Extreme restlessness or anxiety
Big changes in your weight or appetite
•Constant fatigue
•Feelings of helplessness or hopelessness
•Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
•Loss of interest in normal activities
•Inability to think clearly
•Trouble sleeping
•Thoughts of death or suicide
How to Get Beyond Depression
"If you’re getting mired in a long-lasting sadness, it’s a good idea to pay attention,” says Firstein. “Aside from seeking professional help, you should talk to those close to you about what you are feeling, try to understand your feelings, and to make sense of them,” she says.
These tips may also help:
•Get plenty of sleep.
•Increase your exercise routine.
•Avoid drugs and alcohol.
•Postpone important decisions.
•Be patient with yourself and set reasonable goals.
Sadness is a completely normal reaction that begins to fade over time — it should not keep you from functioning and behaving normally. And remember: It will get better. But if you think you have symptoms of depression, it’s important to ask for help. With the right treatment, depression will get better, too.
___________________________________________________
To learn more about LIFESTYLE CHANGES COUNSELING SERVCES please go to:
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
LIFESTYLE CHANGES COUNSELING SERVCES is a member in good standing with
10/03/11
NA FRIEND: BRIAN JONES
This past weekend I was reminded of what a close community NA can be:
A family member invited me to attend a celebration of life for Brian Jones, a 37 year old husband, father of three, son, brother, and respected seven year member of NA. Over a hundred people attended, many were his NA family. In addition to family members getting up to speak of who Brian was to them, his NA friends risked their anonymity to share about how Brian became their “guide” to their new life.
As a slide show of Brian moved through his life, at the beginning and end of the Celebration, I think we were all taken by the pictures of him climbing mountains: He lost his life on September 24, 2011, falling from one of those mountains. In addition of the pictures with his wife and children showing the love, pride, and hope he had, many pictures showed his love of the outdoors: hiking, camping, fishing—climbing mountains. I was particularly taken with a picture of him hiking toward a mountain—his backpack, hiking boots, and path most prominent. Many said that “he died doing what he loved.”
There was so much genuine love and respect for this man---even though I didn’t know Brian, I knew the words spoken hadn’t waited until this Celebration of his Life to be said. Brian was, in his family and in his community, a “man of integrity”.
Shortly before he left, his teenage daughter shared with me that “My dad is really my best friend. I can tell him anything.” After he left, she told me that she is sad he is gone, grateful that she will always remember him, and sad that her little brother will not have the chance to know him like she did.
With the support of NA, Brian climbed one of the tallest human mountains he could have climed in his lifetime: drug addiction. Brian’s Celebration was a reminder to me that NA provides a community of recovery, healing, and profoundly genuine friendship.
___________________________________________________
Find an NA meeting in your community at: http://www.NA.org
____________________________________________________________
To learn more about me, MAx Fabry, go to:
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
Member in good standing of
This past weekend I was reminded of what a close community NA can be:
A family member invited me to attend a celebration of life for Brian Jones, a 37 year old husband, father of three, son, brother, and respected seven year member of NA. Over a hundred people attended, many were his NA family. In addition to family members getting up to speak of who Brian was to them, his NA friends risked their anonymity to share about how Brian became their “guide” to their new life.
As a slide show of Brian moved through his life, at the beginning and end of the Celebration, I think we were all taken by the pictures of him climbing mountains: He lost his life on September 24, 2011, falling from one of those mountains. In addition of the pictures with his wife and children showing the love, pride, and hope he had, many pictures showed his love of the outdoors: hiking, camping, fishing—climbing mountains. I was particularly taken with a picture of him hiking toward a mountain—his backpack, hiking boots, and path most prominent. Many said that “he died doing what he loved.”
There was so much genuine love and respect for this man---even though I didn’t know Brian, I knew the words spoken hadn’t waited until this Celebration of his Life to be said. Brian was, in his family and in his community, a “man of integrity”.
Shortly before he left, his teenage daughter shared with me that “My dad is really my best friend. I can tell him anything.” After he left, she told me that she is sad he is gone, grateful that she will always remember him, and sad that her little brother will not have the chance to know him like she did.
With the support of NA, Brian climbed one of the tallest human mountains he could have climed in his lifetime: drug addiction. Brian’s Celebration was a reminder to me that NA provides a community of recovery, healing, and profoundly genuine friendship.
___________________________________________________
Find an NA meeting in your community at: http://www.NA.org
____________________________________________________________
To learn more about me, MAx Fabry, go to:
http://www.lifestylechangescounseling.com
Member in good standing of
09/02/11
HANDS ACROSS THE BRIDGE: CELEBRATE RECOVERY
This is an event you will want to include in your Labor Day Weekend schedule. Honor everyone that deals with recovery on every level: the recovered, the early recoveries, the still struggling, the families, the friends, the professionals, and those that didn't make it. HANDS ACROSS THE BRIDGE:
10th Anniversary, Recovery Month Event
September 5th 2011 Labor Day
On Labor Day, hundreds of Oregon and Washington residents will celebrate recovery from alcohol and drug addiction when they joined hands to span the Interstate 5 Bridge connecting the states of Washington and Oregon. The tenth annual Hands Across the Bridge event, with ceremonies on both the Vancouver
and Portland sides of the Columbia, kicks off National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. This year’s event is expected to draw nearly 3000 participants whose lives had been affected by addiction and touched by recovery.
A brief outline of the Hands Across the Bridge National Recovery Month Event:
-An opening ceremony will begin with a prayer honoring all
-Powerful stories of recovery will be told
-Elected officials will speak on the benefits our community receives when all of our efforts are focused on the solution of recovery
-In a very spiritual manner, honoring all, community members will begin the walk to the Interstate 5 Bridge and bridge the gap between the Oregon and Washington recovering community, family members, and supporters
As the recovering community reached out of their box of anonymity to stand in solidarity with our community to honor National Recovery Month, proving that treatment works and recovery is real, we all speak out in unity to the Recovery Month theme:
" Recovery Benefits Everyone"
Hands Across the Bridge
Main Event 2011
Date: Sept 5th Labor Day
Time: Starting at 10:00AM
Oregon meets at
The Red Lion
909 N. Hayden Island Drive
Portland, OR 97217
Washington meets at
Esther Short Park
301 W 8th Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
This is an event you will want to include in your Labor Day Weekend schedule. Honor everyone that deals with recovery on every level: the recovered, the early recoveries, the still struggling, the families, the friends, the professionals, and those that didn't make it. HANDS ACROSS THE BRIDGE:
10th Anniversary, Recovery Month Event
September 5th 2011 Labor Day
On Labor Day, hundreds of Oregon and Washington residents will celebrate recovery from alcohol and drug addiction when they joined hands to span the Interstate 5 Bridge connecting the states of Washington and Oregon. The tenth annual Hands Across the Bridge event, with ceremonies on both the Vancouver
and Portland sides of the Columbia, kicks off National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month. This year’s event is expected to draw nearly 3000 participants whose lives had been affected by addiction and touched by recovery.
A brief outline of the Hands Across the Bridge National Recovery Month Event:
-An opening ceremony will begin with a prayer honoring all
-Powerful stories of recovery will be told
-Elected officials will speak on the benefits our community receives when all of our efforts are focused on the solution of recovery
-In a very spiritual manner, honoring all, community members will begin the walk to the Interstate 5 Bridge and bridge the gap between the Oregon and Washington recovering community, family members, and supporters
As the recovering community reached out of their box of anonymity to stand in solidarity with our community to honor National Recovery Month, proving that treatment works and recovery is real, we all speak out in unity to the Recovery Month theme:
" Recovery Benefits Everyone"
Hands Across the Bridge
Main Event 2011
Date: Sept 5th Labor Day
Time: Starting at 10:00AM
Oregon meets at
The Red Lion
909 N. Hayden Island Drive
Portland, OR 97217
Washington meets at
Esther Short Park
301 W 8th Street
Vancouver, WA 98660
07/29/11
LIFE TOOL #5: TRANSITIONS
William Bridges: THREE PART TRANSITION MODEL
Life transitions are inevitable. And, like the seasons, they have a specific time and pattern. If we have the knowledge to recognize, and understand that we are experiencing some significant event in our life, it will help us maneuver through the transition. Experiencing any transition event can be a positive experience if between the ENDING and the NEW BEGINNING, we allow for a reflection time—a NEUTRAL ZONE.
-The ENDING of something
Some people make every attempt to avoid endings of any kind. Silly, since endings happen throughout the entire life cycle. Submitting to loss is a necessary condition for entering into a period of self-renewal. IT IS ABOUT GROWTH!! Holding on to the old does not mean escaping, or not experiencing pain and holding on usually causes more pain to occur. Also, dismissing the old like it did not mean anything, or it did not count and does not work either. Everyone needs closure of the past, a true appreciation of the life lessons we have garnered from our histories, before we can continue with a productive transition. Refusing to deal with the past guarantees that it will continue to haunt us and makes moving on VERY difficult. A successful transition takes courage. Courage to get through the disenchantment (we may wonder about what is real and what is not) which occurs when we are no longer under the spell of the old reality. Courage to get through the disorientation of our old situations, self-definitions, and views of reality being challenged, and we are left confused, with the feeling that we have jumped into the void.
-THE NEUTRAL ZONE
Nothing much happens in the neutral zone, at least from the outsider=s perspective. People in the neutral zone often say that they need a few days, or even long, along just to think, or to pray or meditate. Without the old definitions of the world and our accustomed activities to fall back on, time in the neutral zone can create substantial introspection and heightened self-awareness. Some people try to start a beginning before they accomplish the work of the ending, mainly because endings are so difficult for most people. Some societies provide rituals of transition for dealing with the neutral zone. In Native American tribes, a croaning of women after their 49th year celebrates the transition of the woman into a new defined role as a wise person with an obligation to pass her wisdom down to others. Vision quest is a way that native tribes provide a transition between childhood and adulthood: the person goes into the wilds alone in search of answers which may come intuitively. Lacking such rituals in our society, we may not know what to do with the neutral zone. We celebrate birthdays, a numerical change in age; BUT, there is no definition, or guidance, for the expectations of that period of life. The neutral zone is a period of personal reorientation. This is when we STOP, think about what the old= meant, what was wrong with it, and gain insight into what is really wanted at this stage of life. We get to create new beginnings based on lessons learned while parked in the "neutral zone".
-A NEW BEGINNING
Genuine new beginnings emerge from realignment of ways of looking at the world and a renewal of energy. The hallmarks of our new beginnings are our inner attitudes toward life, our renewed self-knowledge and our intuition. When the directions in life become clear, it is time to take action to make things happen, identify ourselves as traveling on a new course, and then see the process through step by step. We never really give up the old completely, but use what we need from the past as a RESOURCE in our journey into the future.
This concept is VERY difficult to remember in the midst of a change, BUT remembering it can make the transition less difficult to get through. Remember: an ending of something, followed by a neutral zone, then a new healthy beginning.
_______________________________________________
This material is part of materials presented in by MAx Fabry in her three part “MOVING ON SERIES”. The transition concept is based on materials by William Bridges.
William Bridges is an internationally recognized authority on managing change in the workplace. For more than two decades, he has been helping clients with mergers, reorganizations, leadership changes, and cultural shifts.
Bridges is the author of ten books, including the best sellers Transitions and Managing Transitions. He is a frequent keynote speaker at corporate meetings and professional conferences, and the Wall Street Journal named him one of the ten top executive development presenters in America.
Learn more about William Bridges at http://www.wmbridges.com/
___________________________________________
If you would like to be notified when a new tool is placed in the TOOL BOX, e-mail your requests to:
maxfabry@lifestylechangescounseling.com.
Be sure to “subject” TOOL BOX.
William Bridges: THREE PART TRANSITION MODEL
Life transitions are inevitable. And, like the seasons, they have a specific time and pattern. If we have the knowledge to recognize, and understand that we are experiencing some significant event in our life, it will help us maneuver through the transition. Experiencing any transition event can be a positive experience if between the ENDING and the NEW BEGINNING, we allow for a reflection time—a NEUTRAL ZONE.
-The ENDING of something
Some people make every attempt to avoid endings of any kind. Silly, since endings happen throughout the entire life cycle. Submitting to loss is a necessary condition for entering into a period of self-renewal. IT IS ABOUT GROWTH!! Holding on to the old does not mean escaping, or not experiencing pain and holding on usually causes more pain to occur. Also, dismissing the old like it did not mean anything, or it did not count and does not work either. Everyone needs closure of the past, a true appreciation of the life lessons we have garnered from our histories, before we can continue with a productive transition. Refusing to deal with the past guarantees that it will continue to haunt us and makes moving on VERY difficult. A successful transition takes courage. Courage to get through the disenchantment (we may wonder about what is real and what is not) which occurs when we are no longer under the spell of the old reality. Courage to get through the disorientation of our old situations, self-definitions, and views of reality being challenged, and we are left confused, with the feeling that we have jumped into the void.
-THE NEUTRAL ZONE
Nothing much happens in the neutral zone, at least from the outsider=s perspective. People in the neutral zone often say that they need a few days, or even long, along just to think, or to pray or meditate. Without the old definitions of the world and our accustomed activities to fall back on, time in the neutral zone can create substantial introspection and heightened self-awareness. Some people try to start a beginning before they accomplish the work of the ending, mainly because endings are so difficult for most people. Some societies provide rituals of transition for dealing with the neutral zone. In Native American tribes, a croaning of women after their 49th year celebrates the transition of the woman into a new defined role as a wise person with an obligation to pass her wisdom down to others. Vision quest is a way that native tribes provide a transition between childhood and adulthood: the person goes into the wilds alone in search of answers which may come intuitively. Lacking such rituals in our society, we may not know what to do with the neutral zone. We celebrate birthdays, a numerical change in age; BUT, there is no definition, or guidance, for the expectations of that period of life. The neutral zone is a period of personal reorientation. This is when we STOP, think about what the old= meant, what was wrong with it, and gain insight into what is really wanted at this stage of life. We get to create new beginnings based on lessons learned while parked in the "neutral zone".
-A NEW BEGINNING
Genuine new beginnings emerge from realignment of ways of looking at the world and a renewal of energy. The hallmarks of our new beginnings are our inner attitudes toward life, our renewed self-knowledge and our intuition. When the directions in life become clear, it is time to take action to make things happen, identify ourselves as traveling on a new course, and then see the process through step by step. We never really give up the old completely, but use what we need from the past as a RESOURCE in our journey into the future.
This concept is VERY difficult to remember in the midst of a change, BUT remembering it can make the transition less difficult to get through. Remember: an ending of something, followed by a neutral zone, then a new healthy beginning.
_______________________________________________
This material is part of materials presented in by MAx Fabry in her three part “MOVING ON SERIES”. The transition concept is based on materials by William Bridges.
William Bridges is an internationally recognized authority on managing change in the workplace. For more than two decades, he has been helping clients with mergers, reorganizations, leadership changes, and cultural shifts.
Bridges is the author of ten books, including the best sellers Transitions and Managing Transitions. He is a frequent keynote speaker at corporate meetings and professional conferences, and the Wall Street Journal named him one of the ten top executive development presenters in America.
Learn more about William Bridges at http://www.wmbridges.com/
___________________________________________
If you would like to be notified when a new tool is placed in the TOOL BOX, e-mail your requests to:
maxfabry@lifestylechangescounseling.com.
Be sure to “subject” TOOL BOX.
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