Interdisciplinary Psychology:

The book answered many of the why questions I have asked myself over the past decade. I am so tired of my friends telling me I am the strongest person they know. They tell me they wish they could be more like me. Well, I always tell them the only way to do that would be to go through what I have in last few years. I wouldn’t wish that on ANYONE.  I never viewed my ability to continue to constantly seek the positive and beauty in life as a strength, I’m more content to view it as being resilient.

The book reinforced my views that change in life is possible. I knew someone who always told me a tiger never changes his stripes. That statement never set well with me, when he stated it I thought, “Why get up in the morning if nothing ever changes?” I always knew he was stupid, that’s why he’s an ex!  Another powerful message many of us have a problem with is over thinking and using accurate thinking.

The book lays out guidelines useful for our assisting clients in assessing and solving their problems. The seven steps to challenging beliefs will help with clarifying clients’ problems and finding better, permanent solutions to those issues. The use of the ABC’s assists us in slowing down our thoughts and truly looking at the origin of the problem while giving us the ability to be flexible and accurately discovering a new rational solution. The tools I will use most often in my day to day life are; calming and focusing and the real time resilience. I already have many clichés that run through my head constantly that keep me balanced when I feel I’m wheeling out of control. Additionally, I will add to them; a more accurate way of seeing this is….that’s not true because…a more likely outcome is…and I can…to deal with it. These are excellent tools to help us manage our thoughts and how we deal with stressful situations.

An area that is problematic for me is being too optimistic. I struggle with keeping my “All things are possible if you just stay focused and never give up!” attitude under control. I have a hard time understanding when I need to cut bait and run in the face of adversity or a hopeless situation. I believe that life is a long hallway with a series of doors available for us to experience. I can pass by a door today never knowing what is behind it and what effect the contents would have on me.  At a later time, when walking down the same hallway, I can open the same door, knowing the contents are the same, but how I perceive the contents will be viewed differently. This is due to my experiences since the first journey past the door. Knowing when it’s time to another go looking for another door to open and walk through it is the secret. It is truly an art to understand what to do with any given emotion and taking the correct action to ensure the best possible result.