This is the time of year when I think many of us are struggling a bit. I don’t know if it’s the lack of light or just the world at the moment, but it’s tough.
I find myself very stuck and irritated, wanting to escape to the sun or in to my netflix. I realised today I am losing hope, something I never want to do as a therapist.
When they come in to therapy many clients have lost their ability to hope and feel mired in sadness, loss and anxiety. I know I was just going through the motions of life, but felt lost as I came in to therapy.
In therapy we often hold the hope for our clients, when they have none of their own.
My old supervisor used to say it was like holding a candle in the dark. When our clients are ready we hand the candle back to them. This is an image of hope I hold close and often reflect on.
Entering therapy is a very hopeful thing to do, it means we believe we don’t have to suffer and could live another way.
By grasping at glimmers of hope, we learn to look again at ourselves with love and compassion, to believe in better for ourselves.
So all week I have been telling myself to look for hope in small ways; the kindness of a stranger, a great chat with a friend, hug from your child, a delicious meal with a loved one.
This morning it was a tiny snow drop, I just love their courage 🌱 it’s frosty and windy out there but they mark the passing of winter in to spring for me.
I truly believe it is there if we look but we need to tune in to see it and open our hearts to it.
I hope you find some hope this month. With every passing day Spring is on its way and with it, hopefully, better times to come.
I have included my new hope meditation below, take a listen to help you connect to your inner hope!