Stephanie Wendland

THE MESS IN THE MIDDLE

THE MESS IN THE MIDDLE

Robin Sharma is often quoted for the popular saying, “Change is hard at first, messy in the middle and gorgeous in the end.” Not many of us profess to liking change. We tend to fearfully avoid it, and stubbornly resist the inevitable waves that flow through our lives at various stages. Change demands a response from us we may or may not be prepared to give. Change, whether chosen or forced upon us can bring incredible opportunity for something greater to develop than we ourselves imagined. But why is it so uncomfortable, even when we know it is good?

WORK WITH, NOT AGAINST YOUR FEELINGS

WORK WITH, NOT AGAINST YOUR FEELINGS

One of the most basic tasks of a therapist is to help people sort through a myriad of uncomfortable, difficult and often confusing feelings. This task varies in complexity and the process can be as unique as each individual that enters the room. However, in a culture that is drowning in information, where answers are accessible in seconds, we are infantile in our ability to deal with our own emotional landscape. As a culture, we aren’t very good at sitting with pain and suffering. We are used to quick answers and expect quick “fixes” when we are uncomfortable. Or we are used to fighting it. We fight and beat ourselves up, trying to force a return to happiness and bliss.