Your Life Verb

If you think about it, there's probably a central defining action which punctuates your life. In my case, it's "striving" - to develop more competency professionally, to achieve more balance, to play guitar better, to be a more compassionate person, to lose weight, etc. Definitely "striving."

I have a close friend whose verb seems to be "coping" - with her husband's stonewalling, her family problems, her depression. She's always in "coping" mode, but doesn't seem to move on to solving the problems. My "striving" mode has impatience at times with her "coping" status quo. She feels my "striving" mode makes me too hard on myself.

One of my sisters admits to chronically being in "surviving" mode - trying to stay afloat financially, professionally and emotionally. She feels that my "striving" mode at times takes me out of appreciation for all the blessings in my life, and she's probably right. I don't get why she doesn't seem to do more to fulfill her dreams.

So, your verb can tell you a lot about how you're doing your life, and perhaps shed some light on where you may be blind sighted, and limiting your experiences of joy and fulfillment.

What is your life verb?

Feel free to contact me to schedule a remote session to explore the current defining theme of your life, and what might need to happen to shift your verb to a more empowering one. I've identified a list of verbs you might not have considered on your own. You can reach me via my voicemail at 603-431-7131 or through the "Schedule an appointment" button on the right side of my website home page at www.SusanLager.com

Indecision And Mayor Rob Ford

Indecision is defined by the Merriam Webster dictionary as "a wavering between two possible courses of action." I define it as "going crazy"!

Today I couldn't decide what I wanted for breakfast. Then I couldn't decide what to wear for my day at work. Then I couldn't decide if I was hungry for lunch, because earlier, I couldn't decide whether to throw out a two-day old salad or pack it, so I sort of packed it, but then didn't eat it, because I couldn't decide if it would sicken me or not. Then I couldn't decide whether or not to go to an evening professional meeting, because I couldn't decide if the blizzard was coming or not. After I didn't go to the meeting, I regretted not going, feeling like a wuss. Later at home, I couldn't decide whether to watch some TV, read, answer emails or make some calls. So here I am, not knowing why I'm writing this post, half reading the subtitles on the bizarre news I'm not really watching.

Things could be much worse - I could be Crack-smoking Mayor Rob Ford in a fast food restaurant, not able to decide if he's been drinking and drugging or not, slurring words and shouting obscenities in an offensive Jamaican accent in front of the entire world.

It's all a matter of perspective!

Sign up for a Remote Power Hour with me!

If you don't have the time or the inclination to open up a whole therapy process, but have questions or a dilemma you'd like to get some feedback about, you will LOVE my new service: The Remote Power Hour. 

For the rest of the month of January, I will be offering discounted one-hour remote sessions for anyone who wants the expertise, non bias and privacy of a solo session with a trained therapist and coach. A one-hour session, usually costing between $145. and $170. will be available for $100. during daytime office hours whenever we can together arrange one: by phone, conference call (if two of you will be on the call at different locations), or through the online video button on the right side of this page.

For the online video option, just click "Schedule an appointment," follow the prompts, send me an email about your preferred times, and I'll get back to you later that day with a time.

For a regular phone or Skype call, just call my voicemail at 603-431-7131 to set up an appointment.

All payments will be processed with credit card payments through the "Square" app on my cellphone. (I will give you details about that when I return your call with an appointment time.)

It's as easy as 1,2,3!  You have a problem. We talk. You get professional feedback. Whether you're on a beach in Hawaii, in between runs on a ski slope, on a lunch break at work, or caught in traffic  - you can use the time productively to work on what's eating you!

Don't miss this special offer! Discounted rates end January 31st.

No big commitment is necessary, and help is just a call away…..

Have Better Relationships With Self Awareness

Every day in my private psychotherapy practice I work with people who feel miserable in their relationships with family, friends, co-workers or partners. Often, they don't have any idea why the relationships are going so wrong, or what they are doing to contribute to the problem.

One thing I encourage people to do to avoid some unnecessary dilemmas on the front end is to get clearer about their expectations, wants and needs in their different relationships. Developing this self awareness is critical to doing better! Knowing what makes you tick and also, where you have vulnerabilities which are likely to play out, is a big part in creating more positive outcomes.

Here are three questions you can ask yourself to raise your self-awareness in relationships:

1. What circumstances are emotionally triggering to me?

2. Do I tend to blame others? If so, whom, and about what?

3. Do I apologize when I've been out of line?

For 17 more soul-searching questions to ask yourself in the spirit of raising your "relationship IQ," get a copy of my second book, "Become Relationship Smart Without a Lifetime of Therapy." It's available on Amazon as a paperback as well as an ebook. It will help!

Here's the link:  http://amzn.to/WBK83q

"Beat The January Blues" BlogTalk Radio Show. Did you miss it?

Did you know that staying warm can contribute to your happiness or lack of it by 50%?

(This is one of 11 vital tips to beat the January Blues in 2014 discussed on my BlogTalk Radio show tonight). Did you miss the live show? How come?! If you missed it and want to know more about the other ten tips, you can hear the recording of the half hour very interesting show at: http://bit.ly/1cQdL6V

"Beat The January Blues In 2014" BlogTalk Radio Show 1/8/14 8:30 PM

Join me live on the air for my next BlogTalk Radio show Wednesday, January 8th at 8:30 PM for a half hour of conversation about picking yourself up off the floor after the holidays. Call toll-free 877-497-9046 to join in the conversation with questions, comments, or ideas of your own about this timely, (universal?) topic.

Beat The January Blues in 2014 01/08 by Susan Lager | Self Help Podcasts.