psy·che

(/ˈsīkē/  the human soul, mind, or spirit) 
Thoughts from the Westminster Counseling Center

Starting Over – Again
 
As we re-launch the Counseling Center, it seems like a good time to reflect a bit on “starting over.” WCC has been around nearly fifty years and has had to evolve in many ways over that time. We are once more exploring how we can serve the needs of people today. Starting over can be challenging!
 
How is starting over happening in your life? We’re in the second half of the year – how are those new year’s resolutions? Maybe you’re looking for a career change. Maybe you’re retiring. Perhaps there’s a health challenge in your life. Or you may be dealing with hard relationship issues. The world around us is always changing, too! How can we work with the inevitable, sometimes frightening, movement of life, while still feeling as if we are moving ourselves in the right direction?
 
One approach is to practice accepting the feelings that come with a life out of our complete control while acting on the things we find most important. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a research-supported approach to therapy. It suggests that instead of trying to change the difficult feelings we all have sometimes, we focus instead on learning to allow them to be present – and then focus on taking actions based on our values.
 
If you’re struggling right now, consider pausing, taking a few deep breaths, and allowing your feelings to just be there. Then remember what is important to you in life and choose an action that takes you – even one step – in that direction.
 
Starting over, taking another step towards our goals and commitments, even as we run into barriers, often results in feeling a bit better, after all!