Wendy.Periodically.

Buddhist teachings are for everyone. Mental health professionals and lay people, read on. I cannot imagine practicing counseling without using the wisdom of Buddhist attitudes. In fact, I can’t imagine doing Life without using the wisdom. Today, I had a client who turned himself into knots because he he hadn’t heard back from a realistic job possibility. Each day he doesn’t get a phone call from the place, he explained to me, he gets more and more anxious. Why suffer so? Is the building on fire? If it is metaphorically not, then what is he doing to himself?

The Buddhist teachings to help this client are the attitudes of patience, acceptance, as well as letting go. So, my client was holding on very tightly to the idea that: A) He would get a call, B) He will get this job and C) That his anxiety would go away once he got the job. I taught him that he is in control of how he feels and reacts - that the locus is internal. Getting the job isn’t the answer, but learning to prevent and remediate unhelpful reactions are. He will have to adopt some new attitudes as he awaits. If he practices patience, acceptance of the outcome (no matter what), and the idea that the phone call might not happen, then can you imagine what a better state of mind he will hold? What can he do to practice these techniques? Meditation, guided imagery, intention setting, mindfulness, deep breathing, self care, etc. Changing mind set takes practice just like other changes we make. It is so worth it! I could go on and on, but I need to make dinner! Peace, Wendy