As someone who has both had a lot of counseling and also practiced a great deal of counseling with my clients I just had to share this little gem with you. Of course, there are many types of counseling and its all about horses for courses. What works for one, may not always work for someone else. I think the true essence of “freedom” mentally, physically and spiritually comes from the ability to not only understand your “stuff” but also, to be able to let it GO!!!! Far , far away……………Like you would let a balloon go and watch it simply float away. Imagine all the stuff that you carry your perceptions and beliefs which cause you to feel or react a certain way, imagine them never (or rarely, - we are human after all!!) being triggered.
Homeopathy has done a lot for me in this respect, but my latest discovery, has simply been mind-blowing. (literally!!). It’s called adlerian psychology and it works with your cognitive thoughts(your understanding of yourself and your world) as well as your behaviour. What I really like about it, is that it gives you the ability to “see” how you have come to the belief system that you have. When you have had an experience, usually as a child that has given you some sort of positive/negative understanding, then you start to create a belief system that perpetuates these beliefs. For example, if you were told that you were “stupid” your whole life, then you will create experiences that sit with this and fulfil the belief that you have. To find the “aha” moment, we need to pinpoint the memory/experience that created this. It’s kind of like being bucked off a horse, if you are thrown, you may never want to ride again. But, the truth is you are not going to get thrown every time you ride a horse. So we need to be able to let these “negative” beliefs go. Once we do, it will change our life forever, we will lead a much more fulfilling lives.
I had a belief system that everyone had to be happy before me and that I had to be happy last. Also, on top of this, if I was happy, then bad things would happen. It came from the following experience. When I was 8 years old, my parents separated and I was not allowed to see my Mum. I didn’t see her for 10 years, until I found her. But just after they separated, I use to sneak out and see my Mum instead of going to violin lessons. When my step mother and father found out, they forbade me to do it. They said that if I did then I would go to foster care. I created a pretty powerful belief system from this – the one I have just described. It has been with me forever and I have perpetuated it. You can’t even imagine the freedom I have from letting this go. If you are looking for freedom and think something like this may help you, why not call the Adlerian clinic in Vancouver. Maybe you can let your balloon go!!! (604) 874-4614.
By rhiannon rees [rhiannoninwhistler@yahoo.ca]