The Lighter Side of Transformation

with Lisa Wessan, LICSW

Jul 4

Many kinds of freedom to celebrate on Independence Day

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

I am excited about my independence…

Lisa Wessan, Chelmsford, MA

Freedom from the bondage of Food, Fat and Fear!

Freedom from the Three Cs:  Complaining, Condemning and Criticizing of myself and others.

Freedom from needing approval from family, friends, colleagues, clients.

Freedom from depression, suicidal thoughts, self-harm, and all negative thinking.

Freedom from FOMO! (Fear of Missing Out).

Freedom from the stress of being Here but wanting to be There!

DBT Independent and need help

Freedom from all or nothing, black and white, dualistic thinking.  Dialectic thinking is a cure for recovering perfectionists, and a lot of OCD, obsessive compulsive, harsh thinking as well.

Freedom from Compare and Despair.

Freedom from jealousy, envy, lust, longing and cravings.

The only thing I do crave, however, is MORE FREEDOM!

I love feeling useful and peaceful, which is foundational for a life worth living. I also want to feel light and relaxed more of the time.

I want to feel “Serenity in the Storm,” as it is written:

“Serenity is not freedom from the storm, but peace amid the storm.”  (unknown author)

Is my life perfect today?  Hell no!  Far from it!  I need to change SO MANY THINGS – I will spare you the burden of listing my ongoing pain, aggravation, losses, frustrations and deep sadnesses – but the good news is that these things are not dominating my consciousness.

I am not a victim anymore. It is no longer possible. I am 100% accountable for my life.  I blame no one for my difficult situations and expect no one to save me.

Yes, it’s true, with the help of G-d, Wise Mind, Higher Power, and my Army of Angels, I am the one who I have been waiting for! This is totally a G-d Job…turning my defeats into victories, and my scars into stars.  I have finally become bulletproof to the bullies, harsh people, fear and rage around me and within me. As it is written:

“…I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.” (Philippians 4: 11-13)

🌀With the deep healing powers embedded in psychospiritual treatments anything is possible! 🌀

Yes, I’m excited to share this today – my New Normal – after decades of battling with depression, eating disorders, severe mood swings and more.

If you are still struggling, please hear me when I say HAVE HOPE, things will get better if you don’t give up.

HOPE HOLD ON PAIN ENDS

Learn and practice your transformative behavioral and spiritual skills (DBT or whatever) knowing that you are making progress and that “This Too Shall Pass.”

If I can heal and be well, it can happen for anyone.  I am just another Bozo on the Bus, hastening slowly towards Wholeness and Oneness.

May you have a healthy, peaceful and relaxing fourth of July!

Never give up! 

Onward and Upward,

Lisa Wessan

 

Copyright © by Lisa Wessan 2019. All rights reserved.

 

Anxiety DBT depression Emotional Regulation Gratitude Humor Inspiration Mindfulness Peace Transformation Uncategorized

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Mar 14

For Pi Day…Exodus 3:14 brings it home!

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

pi-day

Exodus 3:14 – Mysterious coincidence or deeper meaning?  Exodus 3 is one of my favorite chapters in the Bible.  Moses double checks, “Who is this Unidentified Caller?  When my clan asks me, who can I say is leading us out of Egypt?”  G-d responds, “I AM THAT I AM.”  This is a core teaching, instructing us that we come from this phenomenon of Oneness, and remain connected to IT, without ever being able to fully comprehend IT.

Plus, when we, as tiny creators, want to manifest things in our lives, we can use the I AM code to transform ourselves and our surroundings.

Gentle suggestion…Try creating a series of “I AM” statements for your personal growth. For example,  “Each day, with the help of  [insert your favorite mysterious intentional energy of the Universe]
aka G-d, Jesus, Buddha Nature, Atman, Allah, Source Energy, Higher Power, Angels, whatever works for you:

  • I AM becoming slim and healthy.
  • I AM becoming more prosperous and generous.
  • I AM decluttering my library, desk and file drawers.
  • I AM supporting positive causes that will restore balance and sanity to the world.

Yes, we can “I AM”  ourselves to shift and  transform in the direction we seek to move. There is an art to applying the I AM code to our lives.  Stay tuned to the flow of this learning around you.

In Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), we talk about the “Cope Ahead skill.”  This is the process of visualizing the preferred outcome.   So instead of having anticipatory anxiety along with possibly crippling catastrophic thinking,  we visualize a positive turn of events and pivot away from those anxious thoughts.

We learn to let it go and lighten up a bit. One could say, “I AM  X-Y-Z  and yadda yadda yadda.”   We keep DBT clear of any religious thinking to make it available to all traditions.  It’s important that atheists, agnostics and all kinds of believers can mingle safely and comfortably here and not feel shamed or left out.

Ironically, the “I AM” code is helpful even if you do not have a spiritual prelude when using it.  (From my experience, however, what I’ve observed over the years is that people who have a conscious connection to the Universe in any way grow faster and have more accelerated success in their cognitive restructuring process.)

On a lighter note…here are some Pi Jokes…

Why should you never talk to pi? Because he’ll just go on forever.

What was Sir Isaac Newton’s favorite dessert? Apple pi.

The mathematician says, “Pi r squared.” The baker replies, “No, pies are round. Cakes are square.”

What do you get when you take green cheese and divide its circumference by its diameter? Moon pi.

How many pastry chefs does it take to make a pie? 3.14.

The worst thing about getting hit in the face with pi is that it never ends.

What is 1.57? Half a pi.

What do you get when you cut a jack o’lantern by its diameter? Pumpkin pi.

3.14 percent of sailors are PI-rates!

[Source for Pi Jokes:  Newsweek – https://www.newsweek.com/pi-day-2019-jokes-celebration-1361317 ]

Enjoy your Pi Day!

Onward and Upward🌟

Lisa Wessan

Copyright © by Lisa Wessan 2019. All rights reserved.
www.LisaWessan.com

Awe and Wonder DBT Humor Mindfulness

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Oct 29

Laughter Therapy for Post-Primary Stress Disorder

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

img_9442

One of my favorite sources for excellent international (and national) news coverage is a magazine called THE WEEK.  It is chock full of great executive summaries, plus the editors of THE WEEK have a healthy sense of humor. They express their humor in many ways, such as with their weekly sidebar/column, “Only in America.”  They also have a column for “Good week for/Bad week for” which always gives me a good chuckle, again based on fact checked news stories.

My best laughter therapy from THE WEEK often shows up in The Week Contest, when they ask us to help name something, or label something, or describe something useful to help sort out the news.

The most recent Contest was about creating a new diagnosis for dealing with the current political climate…here are the results, for your therapeutic laughter du jour:

Source: THE WEEK, 10/21/16, page 38:

Last week’s question: The American Psychological Association has found that more than half of Americans identify the 2016 presidential election as a significant source of stress in their lives. Please come up with a psychological term that describes the unique feeling of anxiety induced by this race.

RESULTS:

THE WINNER: “Sufferage”
Phyllis Klein, New York City

SECOND PLACE: “ADHD (Another day with Hillary and Donald)”
Don Walker, Lexington, Mass.

THIRD PLACE: Democrazy
Peg O’Neil, Bloomingdale, N.J.

HONORABLE MENTIONS:

“Strep vote”
Ken Kellam III, Dallas

“Campains”
Valerie Resnick, New York City

“Polliosis”
Dorothy L. Delman, New York City

“POTUS parting depression”
Robert Koshiyama, San Francisco

“Boast rhetoric stress disorder”
Ken Liebman, Williston, Vt.

“Seasonal elective disorder
Emily Aborn, Temple, N.H.

“Pair-annoy-ya”
Richard Pitruzzello, Hanceville, Ala.

“Polls traumatic stress disorder”
Justin Bookey, Santa Monica, Calif.

“Poli-tics”
Curtis Irwin, Clearfield, Pa.

“Turnout burnout”
Peter Bergin, Kings Park, N.Y.

I’m curious, which one is your favorite? Or do you have a better diagnostic term for us to use?

Yes, politics and our election process are serious business, but let’s not get sick from watching this drama unfold!

Onward and Upward,

Lisa Wessan

burnout DBT Detachment Distress Tolerance Humor Laughter Therapy preventing caregiver burnout resilience stress

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May 27

Quote: Humor can get in under the door…

by Lisa Wessan, LICSW

Humor can get in under the door while seriousness is still fumbling at the handle. – G.K. Chesterton, aka “The Prince of Paradox.”

Humor Laughter Therapy Mirth

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