Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Relaxation Meditation
This is a short clip of a guided relaxation exercise I created. You can listen to the full exercise on my website at:
http://manhattantherapists.startlogic.com//bethfriedman.html
The audio link is available all the way at the bottom of the webpage.
I hope it is relaxing and therapeutic. I'll be adding more guided imageries and relaxation exercises soon. Please let me know what you think. Thanks!
Monday, January 5, 2009
Finding Satisfaction in '09 - Not Just Another Set of New Year's Resolutions
How can this year be the one in which you feel most satisfied about your life?
There is so much turmoil and uncertainty in the world right now, and yet I've been working in my private practice on helping my clients focus on the simple and positive things, finding true meaning for themselves. What gives you true joy, peace, and happiness? You can start asking yourself simple questions, and it can be any time of year, not just when everyone seems to be making resolutions. Simply start by asking yourself what you really want from your life. What gives you true meaning?
When you boil it all down, many people simply want to feel heard and understood. We also need to find balance for ourselves when so many responsibilities and distractions pull us in different directions. As a therapist, I work with people to understand themselves better, and to build positive connections with themselves and others.
As people think more about how to save money, we are seeking simpler ways to feel satisfied, without all the bells and whistles. We're rethinking our approach. Increased satisfaction will come when we think about and make space for what we truly want. Some ways to get the juices flowing and feel better at the same time are:
1) Journal Writing - This can be just random thoughts jotted down while you're on the bus or waiting for a meeting to start. Your mind is actively working and thinking even when you are multi-tasking with a million unrelated tasks. Many of my clients have started keeping a journal. It can help to bring your writing to therapy, too, and share some important observations you've made for yourself while you're in the real world, living your life. I also tell my clients when they're obsessing about a particularly stressful situation, to write about it, and then physically put the journal into a drawer and then close it, literally putting those thoughts away for a while.
2) Yoga and Meditation - I have recently started to do yoga/pilates and morning meditation myself. As someone who had not thought these techniques would work for me, I am the most happily surprised at how much I love yoga. I've been doing a 5-minute meditation every morning, too, and it's incredibly relaxing and helps me start my day more clearly. With my degree in public health, I am always thinking about my client's physical health, too, and meditation has been proven to help your body achieve a "relaxation response," which can help diminish feelings of anxiety and distress.
3) Eating right - This can be a tough one for many people, especially when how we eat stems from patterns that started when we were younger. Through therapy, you can figure out your own personal triggers that can cause self-sabotage, or blocks that prevent you from taking care of yourself. Eating right is really less about dieting than about confidence and self-worth. You deserve to fuel your body with healthy foods that keep you going strong.
4) Connecting with our loved ones and friends - Nothing makes us feel better than feeling understood and connected to someone else. Our friends and loved ones can help us tap into strong positive feelings about ourselves, through laughter and joy. My clients find their therapy sessions as a good way to connect with themselves, making time to think about their own patterns and inner strengths. Therapy can help you feel more refreshed and peaceful about your life because you're working on making positive changes for yourself and working to improve your relationships with important people in your life.
I look forward to sharing more Therapeutic Reflections with you in the coming months. May you find more balance and satisfaction this year and moving forward.
Beth
There is so much turmoil and uncertainty in the world right now, and yet I've been working in my private practice on helping my clients focus on the simple and positive things, finding true meaning for themselves. What gives you true joy, peace, and happiness? You can start asking yourself simple questions, and it can be any time of year, not just when everyone seems to be making resolutions. Simply start by asking yourself what you really want from your life. What gives you true meaning?
When you boil it all down, many people simply want to feel heard and understood. We also need to find balance for ourselves when so many responsibilities and distractions pull us in different directions. As a therapist, I work with people to understand themselves better, and to build positive connections with themselves and others.
As people think more about how to save money, we are seeking simpler ways to feel satisfied, without all the bells and whistles. We're rethinking our approach. Increased satisfaction will come when we think about and make space for what we truly want. Some ways to get the juices flowing and feel better at the same time are:
1) Journal Writing - This can be just random thoughts jotted down while you're on the bus or waiting for a meeting to start. Your mind is actively working and thinking even when you are multi-tasking with a million unrelated tasks. Many of my clients have started keeping a journal. It can help to bring your writing to therapy, too, and share some important observations you've made for yourself while you're in the real world, living your life. I also tell my clients when they're obsessing about a particularly stressful situation, to write about it, and then physically put the journal into a drawer and then close it, literally putting those thoughts away for a while.
2) Yoga and Meditation - I have recently started to do yoga/pilates and morning meditation myself. As someone who had not thought these techniques would work for me, I am the most happily surprised at how much I love yoga. I've been doing a 5-minute meditation every morning, too, and it's incredibly relaxing and helps me start my day more clearly. With my degree in public health, I am always thinking about my client's physical health, too, and meditation has been proven to help your body achieve a "relaxation response," which can help diminish feelings of anxiety and distress.
3) Eating right - This can be a tough one for many people, especially when how we eat stems from patterns that started when we were younger. Through therapy, you can figure out your own personal triggers that can cause self-sabotage, or blocks that prevent you from taking care of yourself. Eating right is really less about dieting than about confidence and self-worth. You deserve to fuel your body with healthy foods that keep you going strong.
4) Connecting with our loved ones and friends - Nothing makes us feel better than feeling understood and connected to someone else. Our friends and loved ones can help us tap into strong positive feelings about ourselves, through laughter and joy. My clients find their therapy sessions as a good way to connect with themselves, making time to think about their own patterns and inner strengths. Therapy can help you feel more refreshed and peaceful about your life because you're working on making positive changes for yourself and working to improve your relationships with important people in your life.
I look forward to sharing more Therapeutic Reflections with you in the coming months. May you find more balance and satisfaction this year and moving forward.
Beth
Welcome to 2009!
Greetings and welcome to my blog. Thank you for your interest. For the new year, I hope to help you find balance and joy in your life. Please check back here for my first posted article.
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