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BODY CONFIDENCE Yoga is a powerful healing practice and gentle way to help you feel connected with your body. Some yoga instructors teach a specialized form of yoga for trauma survivors. The Breathe Network is a resource to help you find holistic practitioners, including yoga instructors, who are trained in issues of trauma — The Journey to Heal: Understanding Trauma-Sensitive Yoga
This speaks to why I love being a therapist. In the safe space of a trusted relationship, people can reveal and release their secrets. Little by little, shame releases, too.
Whether it's with a therapist or trusted loved one, find your safe places to tell your hard truths.
Two notes to this meme:
1) No one can read your mind, so do your best to share what's really going on so you can get the support and help you need.
2) If you can tell that someone's "I'm okay" isn't the real truth, it's okay to probe a little bit. For example, gently saying "Are you sure? You look a little ______ (sad, worried, frazzled, etc.) Even if they don't tell you what's really going on, you're planting the seed that you're someone they can talk to when they feel ready.
Love this Diane, very helpful …. 🤗
A few weeks ago, my husband and I were on a road trip and stopped for a few days in Amish country in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. I had wanted to learn more about the Amish since the horrible school shooting in 2006. Do you remember that?
A non-Amish man walked into an Amish one-room schoolhouse, told the boys and teacher to leave and shot 10 school girls before killing himself. Five girls died. The other five struggled with ongoing and devastating injuries.
While this massacre gripped me at the time, what I was most struck by was how the Amish forgave the killer soon afterwards. They reached out to the killer's mother and wife and offered condolences for their loss.
After this trip, I started learning and reading more. I just read a book written by the killer's mother and another by his wife, both of whom were enveloped in Amish love and compassion which helped in their healing.
I'm now reading Amish Grace: How Forgiveness Transcended Tragedy, written by three scholars of Amish history. It's fascinating. I'll post the link to that book below.
Forgiveness doesn't mean violent, abusive or illegal acts don't have consequences. They should. But revenge and vengeance don't help anyone. It's poison to one's mental health, and society.
What are your thoughts on forgiveness? Could you forgive someone who harmed you?
I believe I could, Diane, but I know I would have a lot of trouble forgiving someone who hurt my kids or grandkids. That would be really very difficult for me to do.
The here after is a better place for any soul and getting there regardless of circumstances is a beautiful day. That’s why there forgive and I would too. Yes they’ll be missed but they are home!
To live a high quality life, it's important to take care of your mind, body and spirit. Besides, healthcare in the US is expensive! So think prevention and take charge.
Here's my top 10 list (there's more!). What's on your affordable healthcare list?
I've heard thousands of stories of childhood trauma ranging from small "t" trauma to horrific. But you can't compare pain. All of it affects a child's development.
One way people try to cope with painful experiences is through minimization. For example:
"Other people had it worse."
"I was beaten but I turned out okay."
"At least they didn't ______ (insert something else.)"
"It wasn't that bad."
While these statements may be true on some level, on another level they deny your pain and dismiss your experience. Your inner child then goes into hiding, still inside you and holding the hurt.
If you can relate, there may be a part of you that needs to heal. Validation will help.
Who needs to hear this today?
I most certainly do and thank you! Encouragement and support is always appreciated