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May
13
2014

Courage to Create a New Storyline by Dan Beauvais

Nelson MandelaNelson Mandela was an individual that always inspired me. He shifted our consciousness around the need for equality and freedom despite our differences.

One of the qualities that I admired in Nelson Mandela was his courage. He was quoted as saying “The greatest glory in living lies not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall”. I see courage in all its forms in my life, and in my counseling work. The courage to find hope, the courage to be vulnerable, the courage to try something new, the courage to talk about your feelings, etc.

I encourage you watch Eleanor Longden’s TED talk on Hearing Voices in Her Head. Eleanor is an individual who hears voices. Our scientific community would label her has “suffering” from schizophrenia. When you listen to Eleanor she does not come across as a person that appears to be suffering or should be considered sick. She is a person that has had the courage to understand the voices she hears, and how to manage them. Without the courage to think differently and challenge entrenched old school mental health thinking, she would not be living such a successful life.

In Narrative work, despite how people feel when they present themselves in counseling, there are always unique moments of success, joy, and courage that they don’t notice in their lives. Reclaiming these unique outcomes, and constructing a new storyline of resiliency and hope, can be the foundation for change in people’s lives.

Tags: courage, Dan Beauvais, hope, joy, life, Nelson Mandela, resiliency, success
Posted in Health and Happiness, holding power, Self Growth | 2 Comments »

Dec
02
2013

Christmas and Grief

snowflake“Finding some buoyancy in the darkness.” ~ Beverley Pugh

Christmas can be a tough time for those of us who have experienced the passing of a loved one. I received an email from a man whose wife passed this fall. They have three children under the age of 15. He is reaching out for help as he is dreading the Christmas season. I know so many of us have experienced the loss of a loved one, and Christmas stirs up a great deal of sadness.

When a loved one passes, it rocks our whole foundation. Everything, as we know it, is different. There can be such a weight of heaviness.

My dad passed away in November many years ago just before Christmas. I remember the pain – layers and layers of pain and sadness. It was really hard – I wondered if I would make it through December. I felt that the combination of loss and Christmas would completely bowl me over – so many emotions.

Where do we start and how do we navigate through Christmas when our hearts are aching? For all of us we have to start at the beginning – what is real for us and the truth of how we feel. You may feel devastated, overwhelmed, angry, numbed out, or incredibly sad. You may be open with your grief, or hiding with your grief. You may be wondering how much of your open grief your friends can handle. Could you end up overwhelming them and spoiling their Christmas?

And then there are those of us who do everything we can to avoid our feelings. We heavily distract ourselves with the attempt at not feeling our pain. To move forward with grief, it’s really important to stay in integrity with how we really, truly feel. Don’t try and be different; be honest with yourself so that you can plan how to look after yourself from a very truthful, vulnerable place. There is tremendous strength in being with what is real for us.

Grief often comes in waves. We are in the midst of being in and out of it. I encourage you to ask yourself two questions that have been an anchor for me over the years.

  • How do I feel?
  • What do I need?

Throughout the years, asking and listening, and then taking action have allowed me to go through the tough times with authenticity. This is how healing happens.

As you invite yourself to befriend these two questions, there may be times when you need quiet space, and other times when you need the outside world. There is a time for expression of all aspects of grief – a time for despair, a time for hope, a time for reflection, a time for spirit, a time for a Kleenex box, a time for an airplane ticket, a time for a photo album, and a time for distraction. I encourage you to tell your friends what you need. This can be of great help for you and for them.

There is no right or wrong way to cope with Christmas. Distraction can be a helpful coping technique. One thing I encourage you to do is to have a plan. Don’t go into Christmas without a “something” that you are going to gift yourself. For some people it is going to the sun, where they can feel lighter.

When my dad died, we decided to completely change our experience of Christmas. My mom and brother took a cruise (first time ever) with friends, and I stayed with some university pals and skied and played cards. It worked for us. The next Christmas was easier, and then the next was easier again. Choosing to do something different helped us.

Remember that the part of you that is hurting is a beautiful part of you that can feel so deeply and sincerely. You don’t want to make that part of you bad…it’s your beautiful heart that serves you well.

This is a beautiful community. I have been deeply moved by the support and care we all have for one another.

I’m taking a deep breath, knowing that life has its joys and sorrows. The terrain of life is challenging.

Thank you to the gentleman who reached out and allowed all of us to bring full sentiment to the holiday season.

All the best from 2013,

Bev

Tags: Bev Pugh, Christmas, coping, death, distraction, emotions, feelings, healing, hope, joy, pain, sadness
Posted in Learning to Adapt | 2 Comments »

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Beverley Pugh

Beverley Pugh

Beverley Pugh has international experience in Individual, Marital and Family Therapist services. Areas of practice include counselling in: individual, couples, family, anxiety, addictions, grief, depression, pain management, multicultural, workplace and others.

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Mastery Practice Tool

1. Observe your mind.

2. Acknowledge the thought you are currently running.

3. What you focus on expands: choose to shift to "happy expectancy".

4. Allow for a deep letting go breath. In doing this you are releasing the old and making space for a habit of focus that supports you.

5. Invite yourself to feel happy expectancy in your body.

6. Smile.

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About Beverley

Beverley Pugh has international experience in Individual, Marital and Family Therapist services. Areas of practice include counselling in: individual, couples, family, anxiety, addictions, grief, depression, pain management, multicultural, workplace and others.

Contact

Telephone:
604-925-1513
Email:
bev@beverleypugh.com
Location:
120-1451 Marine Drive
West Vancouver, BC
V7T 1B8
Canada

Disclaimer: The information presented on this site about various psychological conditions, is of a general nature and is not a substitute for an assessment by a competent therapist and/or medical professional. If you believe that you or an important person in your life is in need of an intervention please seek qualified help as soon as possible.

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