Shift…

“a change in direction…a change in emphasis, judgement, or attitude” (Merriam-Webster). Through my experience in working with clients I have come to learn that shifting our thinking, our perspective on things can change us in many ways. There are endless quotes that emphasize how we are shaped by our thoughts, and how our thoughts have a profound impact on who we are as a person. Luckily, there is a ton of research out there that supports this idea that our thinking plays a big factor in how we feel and how we function. I believe focusing on our cognition and working to shift our thoughts can ultimately improve mood, functioning, and overall well-being. From my own personal experience and hearing the hardships endured from my clients, I believe that the ultimate life goal “to be happy” is not realistic. What is realistic is learning to shift how we view and react to things, shift how we think about things and come to understand that life is about experiencing all the things, whether positive or negative.

One of my favorite authors, Glennon Doyle, put it best in her book Untamed- “Being fully human is not about feeling happy, it's about feeling everything.” I feel the society we live in today places an immense amount of pressure on this idea of finding the “ultimate happiness.” This idea that once we find this ultimate happiness, everything will be great and amazing…and sadness, anger, disappointment and the plethora of negative feelings there are will cease to exist. However, this pressure leaves us all in a constant search for something unattainable, because with happiness comes many feelings, emotions, and experiences that encompass both negative and positive elements. I think that if we come to understand and accept that life is about feeling all the things, we can learn to cope with even the difficult moments that come along with being human.

So, I ask you to join me on this journey of shifting your soul.