More about touching lives.

In my previous “Word,”  I challenged you to make a list of all the people who have touched your life and helped make you the person you are today.

The second part of the challenge is simple and predictable:

Make a second list of all the people you can think of whose lives you have touched—over the course of your lifetime until this present day!

Some of the same examples may be on each list:

·      Parents and Siblings

·      Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins

·      Neighbors, School Teachers, Coaches

·      Classmates, Best Friends, Co-Workers

·      Spouses, Children, Grandchildren

It is a fact that we touch the lives of others every single day!  Directly or indirectly.  Knowingly and unknowingly.

Much if not most of the time, we don’t give it a second thought, but the many ways in which we influence others are truly immeasurable.

Think about it as you go through today’s interactions.  Do you:

·      Greet others with a smile?

·      Make eye contact?

·      Nod your head with a gesture of friendship?

·      Speak a word of validation?

·      Offer a helping hand if appropriate?

Additionally, consider how you interact with the people who live under the same roof.  I challenge you to increase your words and gestures of:

·      Courtesy and Consideration  (“Pleases” and “Thank yous”)

·      Appreciation and Gratitude

·      Validation and Encouragement

We never really know how the smallest positive gesture may impact another person!  It can mean the difference between helping someone have a positive attitude or a negative one. A good day or one that is not so good.

In fact, it is very likely that, if you help someone feel better about themself, that person will repeat the process with someone else!

“Be the Good” today!  And tomorrow!

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Safe Conversations—Registration Information

October 14, 2023

HAROLD D DUNCAN, PHD

SEP 6, 2023

Preston Place Counseling and Prestoncrest Church of Christ are pleased to sponsor the latest edition of Safe Conversations, a workshop developed by Dr. Harville Hendrix and Dr. Helen LaKelly Hunt.

This workshop offers participants tools whereby they can experience an enhanced level of talking, listening, and connecting.

It is for couples, individuals, and co-workers.  It is free of charge and includes breakfast, lunch, and child care. Registration is required to reserve your spots.

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A Word about Touching Lives, Part One

Perspective

HAROLD D DUNCAN, PHD

AUG 29, 2023

It’s one of the things I don’t mind about getting older.  As we age into our 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond, we gain a perspective on our lives that is simply not possible in our younger years.  We haven’t lived long enough.

A retired physician shared with me several years ago, “Harold, the older I get, the more I realize things I used to think were very important are not so important.”  There is some real wisdom in that statement.  And it requires perspective.

A word about touching lives from Dr Harold D. Duncan.

I have a challenge for you, and I hope you will accept it.

I challenge you to spend a few minutes on the following exercise:

Make a list of all the people you can think of who have touched your life in a very significant way.  Some obvious examples:

• Parents and Siblings
• Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles and Cousins
• Neighbors, School Teachers, Coaches
• Classmates, Best Friends, Co-Workers
• Spouses, Children, Grandchildren

This is just the tip of a massive iceberg.  As you can see, the list is almost endless.  So many people have helped us become the people we are today!

Also, not everyone has touched our lives in a positive way.  Some of the most important life lessons I have learned have also been some of the most painful!

For example, I believe that some of the people who have touched my life negatively have also helped me work on setting and maintaining healthy personal boundaries!

If you want to expand this exercise, beside each name, list the ways in which each person has touched you.  Additionally, how cool would it be to contact those on your list who are still living and thank them?  “Way Cool!”

(By the way, you can also write a note of gratitude to those who are no longer living.)

In my next “Word” I will share “part deux” of this challenge.

Thank you for reading!

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This year, due to the need to “distance” (physically), our Safe Conversations participants’ numbers are limited, and attendance is on a first-come, first-served basis.
To register, please click on the image below.

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It’s that time again!

Announcing our upcoming Safe Conversations Workshop, Saturday, October 3.

This year, due to the need to “distance,” our numbers are limited, and attendance is on a first come, first served basis. 

To register, please click on:

https://prestoncrest.org/events/safe

Developed by Drs. Harville Hendrix and Helen LaKelly Hunt, this system has helped thousands of couples around the world address their relationship challenges in an atmosphere of emotional safety and mutual respect.

There is no charge for this event.

I hope you will register as soon as possible.  

You will not be disappointed!

The post A Word about Safe Conversations, 2020 appeared first on Preston Place Counseling.

Everyone is aware (some, painfully so) of the frustrations of living in our current sequestering, social distancing, mask wearing society.

Most are doing the best they know how to do, but many are still having a difficult time under the circumstances.  You have probably read about the huge increases (just this year) in substance overuse and dependency, process addictions, depression, anxiety, divorce and many more.

Occasionally, however, I have asked my counseling clients if they have been able to identify any positives that have come along with the challenges.

Surprisingly, many have responded enthusiastically to my inquiries.  Here are just a few of the answers:

“COVID has given me the opportunity to take better care of myself, physically, emotionally and spiritually.”

“I have been forced to rethink and reorder my priorities.”

” I spend more time with my family.”

“I am grateful to have kept my job and income.”

“We have been forced to cut some of the unnecessary things from our budget and live on less.  And that’s a good thing!”

“As a family, we are less disconnected.  We plan family meals and activities much better than before COVID.”

I know you can identify with most if not all of the above reactions.  Clearly, none of us has ever experienced what we are now experiencing.  

However, our pandemic reminds me of the question about fire: “Is it good or bad?”The answer, of course, “It depends.”  Fire can cause great destruction and calamity.  Fire also can refine precious metals.

So it depends upon the “material” from which you and I are made!

Blessings, Peace, Health and Safety to all!

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