Hope

 As we finish out 2021 and are reflecting on this very challenging year, I am hoping to share some caring thoughts. We have had a difficult year collectively and have grown weary, anxious, and depressed. Some have lost friends, family members, careers, relationships, and hope. We have adjusted our lives to evaluate risks and benefits for almost every aspect of our lives in order to make safe decisions.  

I encourage you to lean into your faith, resilience, and support system. It is my hope that you work with your medical and mental health professionals and obtain accurate and truthful information so that you can make informed decisions. Limit your intake of media and reduce social media use.  

We can do our part to heal our wounds, show compassion to one another, and provide support for those who need it. 

Have a joyous holiday season! Even if you modify your usual celebrations, it can still be full of joy and love! 

Ted Lasso: Part Two

 As promised, this is the next part of my review and recommendation of the series Ted Lasso. As usual, I will do my best to avoid spoilers. If you haven’t read the first part, you can access it here: https://meaningfulpsychservices.blogspot.com/2021/10/ted-lasso.html 

The show Ted Lasso depicts a realistic experience with mental health issues, including (but not limited to) attachment, depression, anxiety, marital conflicts, and panic. We see the development of symptoms, the outpouring of support as well as the betrayal of rejection. We see the work of destigmatizing mental illness. We see the simultaneous love and hatred from others. We witness the never-ending effort yet inevitable failure to please everyone and make people like us. We see loneliness, redemption, and the quest for revenge. My favorite aspect is the development and maturity of several characters. In this respect, we see enemies become friends, hard hearts softened, and trust developed. 

Ted Lasso is a worthy watch. I am eager to see what will happen in the future with these characters and themes! 

Ted Lasso

 I am inspired by the series Ted Lasso and I hope you will be inspired too. I am going to try and avoid spoilers, so if you haven’t watched, please do (for mature audiences- this is not a kid friendly show) and read on! 

 

This series highlights the ups and downs of life in a spectacular and unique way. One of the best and consistent themes throughout is a sense of optimism and strength despite stressors. We often describe this as resilience, a skill that can be learned and nurtured throughout your life and is very important for our overall well-being. To learn more about these healthy characteristics, see  https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/resilience-training/in-depth/resilience/art-20046311 and https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/resilience and https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/optimism and https://positivepsychology.com/learned-optimism/ 

 

We also see forgiveness offered and received, even when someone wasn't thought to deserve it. Witnessing this sharing of kindness and grace encourages us to forgive those who have hurt or offended us. This is also very important for our well-being. For more on forgiveness, see https://greatergood.berkeley.edu/topic/forgiveness/definition and https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-forgiving-life/201804/8-reasons-forgive 

There are more great themes depicted in Ted Lasso worthy of discussion (stay tuned for next month), but for now, I will leave you with some reflecting points. 

Here are some of the best quotes from the series: 

“I think that’s what it’s all about. Embracing change.” 

“For me, success is not about the wins and losses. It’s about helping these young fellas be the best versions of themselves on and off the field.” 

 

“I promise you, there is something worse out there than being sad. And that is being alone and being sad. Ain’t no one in this room alone.” 

 

“I believe in hope. I believe in Believe.” 

 

“You know what the happiest animal on Earth is? It’s a goldfish. You know why? Got a ten-second memory. Be a goldfish, Sam.” 

Nature

 Are you taking time to be outside? Do you spend moments noticing trees, grass, flowers, or clouds. Are you enjoying feeling fresh air or the warmth of the sun?  Being in nature is beneficial for our mental and physical health. It is also very important that our children spend time outside as often as possible. You may notice a positive difference in your child or student’s behavior after some outside play time.  Here is an interesting article about the importance of being in nature for kids.  https://childmind.org/article/why-kids-need-to-spend-time-in-nature/

Play and Connection

 This may be one of the most amazing videos I have ever seen. Play is so important for our children (and adults too!) and often overlooked. Play can be simple, real, unstructured, interactive, cooperative, and imaginative. Play is important for learning, problem solving, and cognitive development. Have fun playing! 

Molly Wright: How every child can thrive by five 

Four Horsemen and Relationships

 

Couples can sometimes find themselves in an unhealthy cycle of communication issues, misunderstandings, intimacy discomforts, and conflict. You may have heard about the “Four Horsemen” related to couples, a series of unhelpful and hurtful behaviors that harm relationships. Here is an excellent description of these patterns as well as some strategies for couples to improve their relationship. 

Avoiding The “Four Horsemen” in Relationships

Parenting Self-Care

 Balancing parenthood with any other aspect of life is a challenge. Becoming a parent presents some amazing opportunities to face anxiety and stress. Through it all and during whatever stage of parenting you may be at now, taking care of yourself is essential. Here is an excellent article with some practical and realistic strategies for self-care as a parent.  Finding a Self-Care Ritual That Works For You

Digital Welness

 To avoid spoilers, read this post by Dr. Kanaris, sex therapist and psychologist, first. It’s not what you think!

 

Then, read on...

Is technology serving you well or do you feel like you are being controlled by your phone, emails, social media, or other screens? There are excellent ways that technology can be a wonderful tool. We can connect with people in real-time across the world, keep in touch with teachers and students or start therapy. We can learn about almost any subject, and track our steps, food and water intake, sleep, and mood. We can make new friends, date, and work. I challenge you to check in on yourself- is technology a tool or your boss? How is your digital wellness? 

Languishing During the Pandemic

 Checking in on you this month. How are you doing? We have been in this collective trauma for over a year, and this is going to impact all of us. There was a recent article shared about the “blah” feeling many people have been experiencing during these later stages of the pandemic. I am sharing this with you here. 

I encourage you to fully experience your emotions and express them in an appropriate way. This does not mean don’t cry but rather communicate, cope, and collaborate. If that involves letting tears flow, let them flow.  It is ok and normal-no need to apologize for this.  

Practice good self-care with behaviors that rejuvenate and refresh you. Get a healthy amount of sleep, eat nutritious meals, exercise, spend time with family and friends, and get outside. Challenge yourself with new activities, learning something new, or facing a fear. 

You can stay healthy and have fun too! 

Enjoying Spring

 Happy Spring! 

 

The days are longer and the weather is nicer. I want to encourage you to embrace the environment and enjoy outdoor activities as much as possible. 

Here are some ways to be mindful and optimize your day:

 

Feel the warmth of the sun on your body- pay attention to the sensation on your skin. 

Appreciate the weeds- they are a sign of life and warm weather. 

Tend to the weeds- choose the stuff that needs to go in your life and don’t let this takeover. 

Smell flowers- embrace different scents. 

Take a mindful walk- notice details around you. 

Spend time with others- connect with friends, family, and neighbors outside. 

 

 

Enjoy some time outside!