Wilbridge Counseling
Supporting Growth, Recovery of Health, and Dynamic Change.
The Flip Side . . . The Benefits of Positivity
What is positivity? Positivity is not the same as a blissful ignorance and blatant disregard of everything negative. It is a commitment to accept experiences as they are and to find meaning and value whenever possible. Meaning can be found in even the worst pain and sadness. We see this when bereaved parents fight for legislation in their late children’s names. And we’ve seen inspiring volunteer efforts and community growth following tragedies like the 9/11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina. But you don’t need to experience a major tragedy to benefit from positivity. There are opportunities for practice all around you - a speeding ticket, illness, a faulty alarm clock, fights with loved ones, a bad performance review. The key is to identify it as an opportunity and then to truly feel the benefit in it.
So what payoff can you expect from this kind of positive outlook?
- a longer and healthier life
- resilience
- better social relationships
- more creativity
- a greater sense of well-being
- better sleep
- long-term development of more effective coping skills
There are other forms of positivity, especially positive emotions, which I will discuss in later posts. If you are interested in doing more reading yourself please email me, Danielle, and I will gladly send you a reading list. Almost all of these books can be checked out from our local Columbus library system. And as always I am welcoming new members for my Positive Happiness group! (See details below...)
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Tagged in: Untagged |
May 24, 2010
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Posted by: renvecka
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The Cost of Negativity
Have you ever noticed that the more depressed you feel the fewer options you see? When left unchecked, negative and painful emotions frequently lead only to more of the same in a destructive downward spiral. Picture the eye of a tornado - dark, focused, and damaging. You may have felt this physically, such as with tunnel vision, or mentally, as with thoughts that suicide or other harmful behaviors are the only “way out.”
If you are in a dangerous situation - one threatening your physical safety - this narrowed perception may be just what you need to take life-saving action. It’s how animals survive in the wild. However, for humans in day-to-day life in the 21st century, this negativity spiral is much more likely to have detrimental effects on your:
- relationships;
- work, productivity, and earnings;
- physical health (i.e., blood pressure, ulcers, immune system);
- longevity;
- self-esteem and confidence;
- creativity and flexibility; and
- recovery from stress and trauma.
The good news is that frequent and focused injections of positivity can help. Not only do positive emotions feel good in the moment, but research has shown that they also help to minimize the suffering felt during and following negative events. Watch this blog for more to come on what actions can help minimize your suffering or contact Danielle Sharp for more information. Also, check out our 14-week Positive Happiness group which is designed to increase your positivity and improve your feeling of well-being.
What: Positive Happiness: A group using positive psychology and mutual support to build a happier life.
When: 14 weekly sessions held Thursdays from 6:30 to 8:00 P.M. Next Group is projected to start in June 2010.
Cost: $40 per weekly session
Where: Wilbridge Consultation
Facilitated by: Danielle Sharp, MS, PC-CR
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Tagged in: Counseling , Consultants |
Jul 05, 2009
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Posted by: admin
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 Maggie Hallett, MA, ED.S. will be joining our team, in September as a Licensed Professional Counselor. Maggie has been working in the community mental health system for 1-½ years specializing in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy, an approach especially successful with clients struggling with Borderline Personality Disorder. She has also has training in the treatment of perinatal mood disorder such as Postpartum Depression, working closely with the non-profit organization POEM (Perinatal Outreach and Encouragement for Moms). Maggie will be offering a DBT skills group in September, and will be taking referrals beginning in August. If you are interested in referring a client to the DBT group, or are an individual interested in DBT therapy, you can reach Maggie at: maggiejhallett@gmail.com
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Tagged in: Counseling , Consultants |
Jul 05, 2009
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Posted by: admin
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Rebecca Appelfeller, MAT, CRS will be completing coursework at the Energetix International College of Bioenergetic Medicine in Detroit in July, August, September, and October of 2009. The coursework is divided into four phases: 1) Foundational healing strategies, 2) Elimination of causative factors, 3) Cellular repair and maintenance, 4) the Annual Lyceum which brings together healthcare practitioners from around the world to share in weekend of stimulating lectures full of healing concepts as well as networking opportunities. Following completion of coursework she will receive certification as a Holistic Healthcare Practitioner by the American Association of Drugless Practitioners.
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Tagged in: Counseling , Conference |
Jul 05, 2009
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Posted by: admin
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The American Holistic Nurses Association (AHNA) held their 29th annual conference from June 11th to the 14th in Madison Wisconsin. The theme for the conference was, “Reflective Practice: Creating Sacred Space. The central value of AHNA is the importance of developing a high level of personal awareness in order to understand and work with the connections with self and others. “Reflective practice is a process of exploring the meaning and purpose of caring experiences and creating space within ourselves to evolve as holistic practitioners.” (ANHA Conference Description, 2009)
The conference included a host of excellent workshops including: “Stretching Wider, Delving Deeper: Creating Inner Sacred Space with Ancient Chinese Qigong”, Living in a Body: Powerful Tools for Developing Mind and Body Awareness”, “ Using the Labyrinth to Create Sacred Space for the Healing Journey”, “Healing Your Soul, Spirit and Your Space Using Healing Presence and Physics”. There was a strong emphasis on research and the empirical evidence supporting complimentary healing techniques. Perhaps one of the most fascinating presentations for me was Dr James Oschman’s workshop, “What Energy Medicine is Teaching us About Ourselves and Our Relationships”. Dr Oschman presented information on the nature of the energy systems or fields within and emitted from our bodies. Because I am a practitioner of Therapeutic Touch, (TT) I was especially interested in learning that in holding one’s open hands over a recipients body with intention (to heal) that 5 different types of subtle pulsating energy are emitted in a cone-shaped field from the healer’s hands. Human beings emit light, infrared radiation, infra-sound (low frequency sound), biomagnetic and molecular resonances. Research has shown that light is actually emitted from 3 places on the body, the heart, between the eyebrows (third eye) and the hands. Sophisticated instrumentation capable of “seeing” and measuring energy fields will undoubtedly one day play an important role in the day to day practice of energy medicine.
The next AHNA conference will be held June 3-6th, 2010 in Colorado Springs.
Ruth Frankenfield, RN, MS, CNS
Wilbridge Therapist and Partner
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