As a way of building our “gratitude muscles” and to help our colleagues build theirs, too, every Friday we will be hosting Mustard Seeds & Mega-Gifts: A Community Gratitude Journal. Here you can share the large and small gifts and opportunities that come your way while building your private practice. To get you started, . . .
Oh, my gosh! I have so much to be grateful for this week! Right at the top of my list is . . . (1) Overwhelming gratitude for this amazing online community that continues to step up and join the conversations here on Private Practice from the Inside Out! (Did you see all the conversation generated by Ruth’s question this week?!) And, (2) by the time you read this tomorrow, I’ll have met with one of my favorite people in the whole world, Barbara Sheehan-Zeidler and started the planning phase of another AMAZING little (?) project for you guys!”
So . . . what is it you are grateful for this week?
If you would like to build your own gratitude muscles by sharing your appreciations with us, here is how our gratitude journal works . . . .
- It will post weekly on Fridays.
- Your job is not to just be a passive observer but to contribute to the post by sharing something that you are grateful for.
- Just send an email note of appreciation related to anything that supports you growing your practice and put “Mustard Seeds” in the subject line.
- I’ll post it the following Friday as part of our community gratitude journal!
- And, if you forget to send an email, you are welcome to just add your appreciations to the comments of the weekly post!
- Afraid you’ll forget or slack off on sharing what you are grateful for? You can sign up here to receive blog updates for Private Practice from the Inside Out (that you can use as nudges and reminders to share your appreciations) in your email inbox.
Research indicates that by consciously savoring those large and small gifts that come way, our joy and ability to recognize other opportunities are intensified.
Today, I am very thankful for additional counselors in the program. Challenging situations can be thought through with several others.
Absolutely, Bryan! Thanks for dropping in to share your appreciation for the ability to share the challenges! I see that same “thinking through” with others this week on the CESNET-L online discussion list as therapists are thinking through and re-thinking through their positions on a new emotionally-charged mental health-related court ruling out of Michigan. And, you’re right . . . that sharing is hugely valuable – especially when it’s with colleagues whose judgement you trust!
Have a great weekend, Bryan!
I have not added my opinion to the CESNET-L conversation. I do have plenty of thoughts regarding it, especially since I am in Michigan regarding the legislation. I have faith in ACA, MCA, and the other professional mental health organizations to fight this injust and profession limiting legislation. I find that not everyone is understanding or using words the same way. This is something that I do in family therapy sessions. Again, the sharing can just be good consultation.
Bryan, I, too, have remained silent so far about this issue not because I wanted to but because my right-brain kicks in to overload on this topic. Every time I sit down to respond, I find myself unable to contribute to the conversation in a useful manner. It’s my family that they are talking about! Just grateful that others have spoken up . . . on both sides to continue the conversation. As long as the conversation continues, minds will change. I, too, believe that the major professional associations in mental health will continue working to do away with oppressive policies and regressive legislation.
Tamara, in addition to being grateful (and very excited!) to start our AMAZING project, I walk in gratitude for my health and well-being. I am thankful for my brain and body, and practice appreciation for optimal mind/body/spirit health. My very wise Dad’s philosophy was “without your health, everything else is a distant second”.
A number of years ago when my life was way out of balance, I was ill about every 3 months and just about everything seemed to be much more challenging. Now, as I live in better balance, my health is generally good and I’m able to embrace and enjoy life with ease and grace. Hence, my gratitude is usually grounded first and foremost in mind/body/spirit health!
Thanks for this topic, Tamara! It’s nice to pause and reflect on what we value as good and are grateful for!
Thanks, Barbara! It’s always good to have your voice here . . . and a nudge to me to keep up the self-care! (Traci Hart, LPC is guest posting next week on some tools we can use in self-care!:)
I am very grateful for the young lady in our practice who coordinates all the requests for test materials for the 12 clinicians in our practice. Without her expertise, great attitude, and excellent organization skills, we would be missing test kits, running out of protocols, and generally in a very bad way! Administrative support staff really keep a busy practice running very smoothly!
Samantha! Thank you so much for sharing this appreciation, in particular! Finding and keeping great administrative staff is crucial to a large practice and it’s not always easy to do! You have obviously found an amazing woman to is able to multitask and keep the practice running at full throttle! Whatever you do, don’t forget to let her know how much you appreciate her efforts! (And, feel free to drop back in and name her, too! I say if it’s something good, tell everyone! And, if it’s somethings bad, tell the individual . . . in private.)
Thanks. Her name is Kevya, and she is currently pursuing a Masters degree in counseling. She says she’s lucky to be working at our practice with the collective wisdom of the psychologists and Licensed Professional Counselors there. However, we all agree that we’re equally blessed to have her and the skill set she brings to us.
Samantha! Thanks so much for sharing her name with us! Now make sure you are treating her well or . . . someone might just lure her away from your guys!
Hey, I hope you’ll let Kevya know – and that she’ll let her classmates know – about Private Practice from the Inside Out! And, if she enjoys writing, I would love for her to drop in here to introduce herself. I might just have a little guest post in mind for her!
I am grateful that in my journey of change I have been able to become a better therapist for my clients. When we grow we can offer more to the clients in our therapy room. I am greatful for my own change and the change I guide for my clients.
Hi, Lyndsey. Nice observation. And, of course, you are right. At lunch today with Barbara, I was talking about an area that I need to work on so that my stuff stays out of the clinical hour or, at least does not impede the work that my clients do.
Thanks for working on that gratitude muscle with us today!
May I add something? From the opposite side of the couch?
I am grateful for the magic that takes place in offices just like each of yours – for working with a psychologist that is knowledgeable, experienced, and “just right” for me! I’m grateful also, for my therapist prior to this one – for teaching me the tools I need to work through what I’m currently working on. Both of these women have helped change my life, which will in turn (hopefully) change the lives of others in the future!
Amanda! I’m always so touched when we can hear from those who are not mental health professionals. Professional helpers and caretakers can learn so much from listening and learning from our clients. Thank you for sharing your gratitude for “Aster” and “Daisy.” (Yes, I took a peek at your lovely blog.) I hope you’ll let them know about Private Practice from the Inside Out and that you are appreciative of their time spent with you, too!
Amanda, feel free to drop back in any time! Blessings to you on your journey!
Thank you for this sweet reply, and for taking the time to look at (and leave a comment on) my blog! Both Aster and Daisy know of my gratitude, thank goodness for the ability to let them know – and will be sure to let them know of you here!
Take care!
Thank YOU, Amanda! Readers who are willing to also take the time to engage are a gift, aren’t they!?
I’m grateful for the flexibility that my private practice offers me. It’s great to work on a schedule that gives me time to keep the other aspects of my life in balance. Self Care is so important!
Desi! Welcome back! We haven’t heard from you in a while! Thanks so much for sharing your gratitude! I’m so with you on this one! The extreme flexibility of private practice is one of the huge perks for me, too! And, yes – it does allow me to get to the gym in the middle of the day to take care of me!
Thanks for joining us in building our “gratitude muscles!.” I hope you’ll be back often to share you appreciations and your ideas and resources as well!