On a More Personal Note

I have been writing my blog for a few years and I have rarely spoken about myself and my own struggles. Having started my own journey of recover nearly 30 years ago, I have a great deal of experience and knowledge about all the skills I have shared with my readers. I have also learned from all the people I have counseled over the last 20 years. I hope that some of you have benefited from my blog.

One thing I have to keep in mind is the phrase: progress not perfection. No one, including me, has ever done this perfectly. I am a work in progress like everyone else who is in the process of change and growth. I suffered from chronic depression and addictive behaviors for most of my life as well as poor self-esteem. Although I have experienced a tremendous improvement in the quality of my life, I also have my struggles. I sometimes find it difficult to apply all the coping skills I know. There times I have to work hard to focus on the things I need to and stay in the present.

I have my own philosophy of life: Life is to be enjoyed. I work every day to make that a reality. One of the ways I stay focused is by writing this blog. It has great value to my life. I hope it has value to yours.

8 Warning signs of a Relationship Gone Horribly Wrong

Sometimes I share links that I believe deliver an powerful and important message. I urge you to read this.
http://www.upworthy.com/8-warning-signs-of-a-relationship-gone-horribly-wrong?c=ufb1

Practical Advice

If you have a situation or issue to deal with or overcome work through it the best you can and move on. As much as we would like to have do overs or an easy button, there are none. Life is too short to dwell on the past and be miserable. We all find ourselves in situations we don’t want to be in. We are all human and make mistakes. Developing the life skills to navigate life is very important.

If you have a topic you would like to me to discuss, please contact me.

Dealing With Adversity

As much as would like our lives to be smooth and without problems, it isn’t the way life unfolds. It is not a matter of if we will have an issue or problems to deal with, but when. Having the ability to deal with and overcome adversity is an important part of having a rewarding and fulfilling life. For me it begins with accepting that life isn’t fair and that we have limited control over many aspects of our lives. When things are going smoothly we have the illusion that we have everything under control. It is not until a problem presents itself that we are hit the reality. There are many, many things beyond our awareness or control.

I hear many people say, “If it weren’t for bad luck I’d have no luck,” or “Why do bad things always happen to me.”, or “I must have done something very wrong because I am being punished.” None of this is true and the universe is not out to get you personally.

Don’t do things to avoid the feelings that come up with regard to the problem. Write about it. Talk to friends and family. Try to learn the lessons you can from the situation. The key is acceptance. You cannot change the past. You can only move forward.

You will find that you are much stronger than you think and can deal with a lot. We learn from the problems we face and the mistakes we have made. When we have not succeeded at something it does not make us a failure. There is a lot of truth to the saying that those things that don’t kill us make us stronger.