To Put it Simply

Some of the most impactful messages I’ve ever heard or read have been the simplest. A few that come immediately to mind include:“Dream your dreams but don’t pretendMake friends with what you are”(John Mayer – Lyrics from “Age of Worry”)“Never allow someone to be your priority while allowing yourself to be their option”(Mark Twain)“Go, because you want to. Because wanting to leave is enough”(Cheryl Strayed)I could go on, as I am a lover of words and have collected quotes for as far back as I can remember. The point of this particular blog, though, is to bring your awareness to the potency in simplicity.   Whatever your feelings about therapy and the process of self-discovery, in general, inevitably there comes a point when analysis paralysis sets in and the motivation to peel back the layers of the proverbial onion wanes. Just because something is complex in nature (i.e. being human) does not mean the only source of enlightenment has to come from a deep analytical dive into your unconscious, a PhD level understanding of psychological theory, or an insatiable quest for self-awareness via self-help books. Finding answers, making connections, and gaining insight into why you do what you do can be much simpler than that. This isn’t to say that investing in a full on, honest to goodness exploration of “Who Am I Really?” isn’t work…it is. This kind of work, though, doesn’t have to be so serious and heavy all the time. The three quotes I mentioned above, for example, came from a song, a conversation with a friend, and a non-job related book, respectively. Most recently, I sat in on a presentation at a middle school and listened to the Principal talk about rules, protocol, and policies…the most important of which was a message to faculty, staff, and students, alike, to ask: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary? before saying or doing anything. Simple.Overcomplicating a process – be it a recipe, a creative outlet, or a decision – can cause undue stress and dissuade you from taking steps toward further exploration and discovery. Don’t make it harder for yourself than it needs to be.   Most of the things we get twisted up about are manageable with the right support. Hence, the simple truth of an old adage: “this too shall pass”.