by David Fireman, LCSW, and client
You feel increasingly uncomfortable with the status quo when it is causing harm
Your causes and relationships begin to more closely reflect and reinforce your values
You take the risk to trust your own change and learning processes
You stop making excuses (make less of them)
You become more honest with yourself and others
You empathically confront and challenge your own and others’ fears, illusions, and self-imposed constraints
You use your own voice to respectfully express your values, opinions, perspectives—especially when they differ from those of others
You learn how to collaborate and share with others more efficiently and effectively
You sustain your efforts and remain engaged in your struggles
You open yourself to a range of feelings, many of which are unfamiliar
You do not relax until it is time to do so
You blaze more trails
You follow your own instincts and consult your conscience with more confidence
You know better when to say no
You know better when to say yes
You access the best within yourself to make your life meaningful and to repair the world
You feel more free to ask questions
You experience sadness at the suffering of others and find fitting ways to help alleviate suffering
You learn to use your angry feelings less as weapons and more as fuel to influence positive change
You are more willing to think and act courageously and creatively
You know better the difference between “I get to” and “I ought to”
You begin to feel more excited about the future and less held back by the past.
You are able to recognize a positive trajectory forward over time
You fee empowered to make the best decision possible when confronted with a myriad of options
You have more compassion for your own discomfort but have more faith that you can control/regulate your own actions/behavior
You can distinguish between what feels good in the moment and what is good for you/sustaining in the long run.
Copyright, 2011
David Fireman, LCSW
773/274-4600
www.griefcounselor.org
