Even More Self-Aware

This is my last post in this series and if it’s not completely clear yet, I’m a big fan of analogies! Reason being is that entering therapy and working on oneself is scary!
In my own experience with therapy, I’ve known it to feel both like being stuck in tar and/or like being in an open expanse with no sense of direction to where I need to move next. No wonder so many people have a “screw that” attitude toward therapy! Not everyone LOVES the idea of putting on their jungle clothes and hacking their way through, machete in hand, always with the risk of encountering scary animals and insects you would only be semi-comfortable encountering in the best fantasy movies! As you can see, analogies help to express and paint the picture of the inexpressible.

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In my previous post I spoke about self-awareness and reflective skills being the most important skill a client can learn. The reflective skills that allow you to build self-awareness are key in therapy and life as they put you in the driver's seat in both cases.
As you become better at reflecting and understanding your patterns, the “heat” you feel becomes a signal you learn to pay attention to across many situations that arise in life, not just the one you’ve come to therapy for. It’s incredibly powerful and enables you to begin helping yourself, even without the help of a therapist. Building this foundation, the ability to self-reflect, is sometimes the biggest hurdle, but also the biggest tool that can be accessed time and time again.

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In therapy, there are many valuable strategies and skills that can be incorporated that are important to help in getting through those difficult moments as you build reflecting skills and self-awareness.
However, the reflecting skills and self-awareness is where the freedom and growth is at. Going back to my analogy - the tar may be heavy and dirty and exhausting! The expanse may be scary and lonely! The jungle…it can be a beautiful journey, while also being scary and exhausting!
However, the outcome is an ability to move forward more easily, know which direction to take and having well groomed pathways where the scary animals are tamed and the bugs…well, you learn the right bug spray to use for them!
Imagine what this means…if the tar dries up and you can walk on top - lightness, clean, more energy! If the road to where you need to go is clear across the expanse to what you want and need - reduced fear and loneliness! If a jungle has a clear path and wildlife that’s had so many encounters, they’re no longer a threat - easier, quicker, more energy, reduced fear…perhaps even happiness and enjoyment!
This is the reason I advocate for people doing their work.
It’s hard work, but the rewards are life changing!

Til next time,
Tanya