Aspire to Inspire

By: Kari Mika-Lude A good therapist is always working himself or herself out of a job.   In other words, the most basic goal of therapy is to no longer need therapy.   However, the therapist can only do so much.   The therapist’s role is not to solve problems or make things better.   Unfortunately, therapists are not magicians or wizards, and there is no magic wand. Consider physical therapy for a moment.   In physical therapy, there is a therapist.   The role of the physical therapist is to facilitate the healing process through the use of exercises, education, and so on.   Ultimately, the work itself falls on the patient; if the patient does not do her part, then healing will not take place.   Physical therapy can be a long and painful process, but that pain is accepted as a means to an end.   The therapist’s job is similar to that of a coach, offering guidance, support, and encouragement throughout the process, but if the the...

By: Kari Mika-Lude Oftentimes, we are our own worst enemy.  We belittle and berate ourselves, blame ourselves for things we could not have foreseen or prevented, and then we wonder why we are left feeling defeated and stressed.  One of the most common ways we do this to ourselves is by personalizing things that just aren’t personal. For example, let’s say you send an email to a potential employer about a job posting.  You are really excited about the job opportunity and are eager to hear back.  You begin checking your email every few hours, hoping to see a response in your inbox.  A few days pass, and still nothing.  Where does your mind go with that?  More than likely, you are telling yourself that you were an idiot to think that you could ever get the job, the person reading your résumé is laughing at you, and you should just crawl into a hole and never come out.  On the other hand, if it w...