Next BlogTalkRadio Podcast 3/15/17 2 PM EDT with International Motivational Coach: "Building a Problem-solving Mindset with 7 Critical Tools"

In this 45 minute episode join my guest, Carthage Buckley and me for an important lesson on the seven aspects of developing a problem-solving mindset, something vital in dealing with all of life's challenges.

Carthage Buckley is an experienced and enthusiastic learning and development professional with extensive coaching, mentoring and motivational skills, and a proven ability to empower others, enabling them to achieve their full potential. He has worked in Training & Development and Coaching in numerous countries including Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. No matter what the problem may be that you're trying to solve you'll need the right attitude and skillset, and tuning into this episode will help you get there!

Join us live on Wednesday, March 15th at 2:00 EDT USA by calling into the studio at 877-497-9046 with your questions or comments for this expert. If you can't make the live podcast you can listen to the recording anytime afterward at: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager

Don't miss my next BlogTalk Radio podcast 2/15/17 8:30 PM EST about "Noticing"!

You don't want to miss my next episode about "noticing" and how it can enrich your life!

In this 45 minute episode I'll co-host with Cindy Giovagnoli, a photographer and writer who believes in curiosity, enthusiasm, meditation and mistakes, and who offers dynamic workshops and retreats focused on developing the art of noticing in our lives. 

Listeners will gain an understanding of what real 'noticing' is, how it can be practiced, and how that practice can be a transformative force for more centeredness, calm, presence, and joy.

Call into the show live with questions or comments at 877-497-9046 on Wednesday, February 15th at 8:30 PM EST.  If you can't make the live podcast tune in anytime afterward at: www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager

How Your Lens Effects Absolutely Everything!

This is a pretty winter scene, wouldn't you say? When you look at it do you see stillness, silence, the beauty of nature imposing itself on a cityscape, maybe a snow day off to relax and refuel? Or do you see a frigid, lonely, oppressive, colorless storm aftermath with probable power outages and traffic shutdowns? Well, it's all in your lens, or the way you take in the visual experience and the meanings you give it. If you're a Southerner, or a pessimist you probably zone in on all the discomforts and possible inconveniences associated with this scene. If you're a hardy New England nature lover, or just an optimist, you probably see the exquisite beauty in the scene. You might view it as an opportunity for a snowshoe hike or a hilarious snowball fight. It's all in not only what you pay attention to, but the meanings you assign to your selection.

The 2016 election was, (and continues to be!) a perfect example of this issue. You hear from three Trump advocates / surrogates about his behavior in a particular situation and they frame it as "take charge," "authentic," "strong," "warranted."  You then hear from three liberals about the same events and they frame his behavior as "authoritarian," "deceptive-lying," "bullyish," and "provocatively inappropriate."  The two sides, based on their lenses can't even agree about the occurrence of the same exact events.  (To this point, we now even have a new term called "alternative facts" coined by the incoming administration).

Whether you're a democrat, a Republican, an independent or apolitical, how you see political events and the world in general entirely depends on your lens.

As a psychotherapist part of my work is to a) encourage clients to notice what they pay attention to, and b) challenge the lens through which they take in events, or the meanings they give their experiences. I try to practice what I preach, knowing how radically it effects my moods, energy states and world view. I would encourage you to do the same!

Discernment Counseling Update on BlogTalk Radio 1/25/17 8:30 PM EST

Tune into my next 15 minute BlogTalk Radio episode on Wednesday, January 25th at 8:30 PM EST. I'll be giving you a 2 year update about Discernment Counseling - how and when it's most effective, who is and who is not a candidate for this form of brief treatment, and most importantly, how, even if there's a decision to divorce, it can transform your relationship with a current spouse.

Call in live with questions or comments at 877-497-9046 or listen to the podcast anytime at www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager

Winter Blues - Be Miserable or Make Peace with the Season!

This past weekend it was a balmy 24 degrees for the high on most of Saturday and Sunday here in the Northeast. Many of you might grimace at this information, especially if you live in Maine or New Hampshire and routinely experience a six month winter. You're even more likely to look at this photo of me on the Lincoln Woods trail, deep in the heart of the mountains, and think I'm crazy, right? What you may not realize is that, along with some good friends and my husband I was practicing the art of making peace with the cold, given the fact that we can't change it and would certainly get very depressed hanging around inside all winter. (What you can't see in this particular photo is the fact that all four of us had just driven two hours North to see the Ice Castles, basically, an ambitious bunch of ice towers near Loon Mountain - all freezing stuff)!

But, there's method to the madness: Get out in nature after you've sufficiently bundled up, experience it's beauty, yield to it, and you'll be taking a natural anti-depressant! So, whatever feels most comfortable to you - downhill skiing, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, ice skating, or just plain trail walking with your dog, if you have one - any of these activities will help you not only get through the very long New England winter, but will give you exercise, social contact, a happy dog and communion with nature. All very good things....

"5 Foolproof Ways to Ruin Your Holidays" on 12/14/16 8:30 PM BlogTalk Radio

Don't miss my next 25 minute BlogTalk Radio episode on Wednesday, December 14th at 8:30 PM EST

If you've been telling yourself a story about all the stresses, expenses, difficult relatives, ridiculous gifts, cards to send, the hassles of putting up and decorating the tree, Chanukah forgotten, cleaning the house, making flights on time, too much eating and drinking, getting too fat, cleaning up the house, no time for anything, then this episode is for you!

I'll give you 5 sure methods to make all the negative spin come true, individually, and as a couple. Enough chirpy info about how to do better! Let's look at how you can SABOTAGE any fun, joy or meaning!

Tune into www.BlogTalkRadio.com/SusanLager for live streaming, or for the recorded episode afterward, OR to join me live on the air with your own Grinch stories or ideas call into the studio at: 877-497-9046  I'd love to make it a conversation!

 

 

The Couch Caper and the Curse of Self Doubt

My trusty old couch

It was finally time after almost ten years, for me to part ways with my trusty old office couch. It was beautiful and comfy, but badly soiled and worn, as you can see, after being the repository for thousands of hours of client's struggles and triumphs. Oh, the stories this tired old couch had heard!

I'd spent months noticing how the cushions were getting more frayed and soiled, obsessing about whether I should have it re-upholstered, (and how would I ever do that?), or to just let it go, hopefully to a new home. Back and forth, decided and undecided I remained for months and months. Now the issue was less about the condition of the couch but my lack of confidence about the "right" decision!

I finally pulled the trigger, after days of measuring and re-measuring, (I'd bought a couch in the past I had to return because they couldn't get it in the door!) I found what I thought was a perfect replacement and made plans for the Salvation Army to pick up the old couch.  Before they arrived I was caught in yet another wave of self doubt: Did I measure correctly? Would it fit? Would the new one match or be comfortable enough? Did I really do my homework diligently about all this? Was it fair to just discard a couch that had served my clients and me so faithfully? (Does this kind of self-doubt feel familiar to you?) After several agonizing hours I decided to try to trust my perceptions and diligence, and move forward.  Unfortunately, I wasn't rewarded for the moment of decisiveness when the Salvation Army rejected the donation - "too worn." With the new one arriving the next day, should I keep the old couch if I had nowhere else to put it? More indecision, and I'm the therapist?

I finally broke the bad trance, deciding this issue wasn't about world peace, and that I should try to trust my perceptions, as I'm usually a very thorough person. Worst case scenario, I'd have two couches, one parked in the waiting room, and a new one in my office. I put a "free couch" sign on the old one, and within an hour a mother took down my number, exclaiming how perfect this old couch would be for her son who was moving into his own apartment. He wouldn't be put off by the optics of it, but would love the functionality, especially since it was a full size sleeper as well. Long story short, the new couch arrived the next day, fit perfectly in my office and looks beautiful, and the kid came the next day to pick up his new treasure.

I can only guess what fun he and his roommates will have, throwing down beers, imagining the therapy dramas his new couch holds. Hopefully, he won't doubt his own decision to give the old girl a new home just because she's a little worn out. And hopefully, next time I won't invite the curse of self doubt into what could be an exciting decision. Maybe? Maybe not.......