But will be back soon.
Much love to you all.
Blogs: Diary 1927 and Spiritual Snacks |
|
Hello Lovely Readers. I will be taking a temporary break from Spiritual Snacks.
But will be back soon. Much love to you all.
0 Comments
This line from the Workaholics Book of Recovery has wisdom for any of us who live in workaholic cultures:
“Recovery often requires us to go slower instead of faster . . . We are challenged to do one thing at a time and pay attention to a Higher Power, the world in which we live, and the people who care about us.” Some of us are very practiced at keeping a running tally of all the ways we are falling short either in specific thoughts or vague feelings. How else can we improve?
In truth, this can become a default habit which blinds us to a bigger, more accurate perspective. In reality, like teachers and parents have discovered, reminding people of what they are doing right instead of pointing out what they are doing wrong can be a powerful tool. I used to work in an alternative high school with students who had been kicked out of the traditional school and had low academic self-esteem. In our creative writing class, in the beginning, I only gave them feedback on what was working in their writing: the elegant phrase, the fresh metaphor, the heartfelt sentiment. And miraculously, as I did that, they did more of the good stuff and the less effective writing naturally melted away. Once they built confidence in the value of their own voices and in some skills, then they wanted, and were ready for, more specific feedback on areas of improvement. If you have been a bit beat up by life or yourself, begin by regularly, systematically, with celebration, noticing and acknowledging what you are doing right. Don’t take for granted, or dismiss, all the small and big positive choices you make. Maybe even write them down. Recognizing them will give you a healthier, more accurate perspective, and more confidence in your own skin. With this solid foundation, we can then both ask for and hear suggestions for improvement and discern what feels healthy, accurate and useful, without overreaction or overwhelm. |
AuthorTarn Wilson is the author of the memoir The Slow Farm and numerous essays. You may read more of her work at tarnwilson.com. Archives
September 2020
Categories |