Emotional Pro

Yesterday, I listened to NPR as I drove to and from my office to see my psychotherapy clients. Everyone was talking about the incredible, swift rise in the cost of oil, up to $72 per barrel yesterday, more than 82 cents per gallon rise in a single week. As this was discussed, the commentator mentioned…

Lazaris says: “Before change, chaos; following change, chaos.” Turmoil, it seems, is part of change; and Life Learning requires change. So, it’s Springtime. Traditionally we relate to this time of year as that of “planting seeds” for the coming year, hence we do Spring cleaning, sign up for classes in topics new to us, and…

It’s come up more than once in the past week, so it’s time to revisit this topic again! Many years ago, as part of my healing as a “Recovering Angry Person,” I realized that whenever I feel angry (and especially the hurt that is always underneath), I must deal with it, upfront. If I don’t,…

Yesterday one of my daughters reminded me of a lovely thing that happens once you really learn a particular lesson. Not too long after you “get” what you’re attempting to teach yourself, you have the experience of observing someone else caught in the exact same trap, utilizing a similar response to the way you reacted,…

I come from a “do-it-yourself” background and family. Consequently, I know how to do a lot of things–such as painting the walls of my home, repairing my garbage disposal, rewiring a defective wall outlet, and retrieving lost items that fall down the drain in the bathroom sink. This year and last have been my years…

On February 23, 2006, the American Psychological Association issued a press release through the APA entitled “Americans Engage in Unhealthy Behaviors to Manage Stress.” Here are some interesting items from that release: 1) Forty-seven percent of Americans say they are concerned about stress; 2) Leading sources of stress include money, work, health problems (especially of…

Yesterday I attended the 50th birthday party of a long-time friend, a woman who now is known as “Futon Mary.” I first knew her over 25 years ago, when she was out of a job, not happy with her life choices and without direction. What a joy it was to see her yesterday, among many…

I never imagined that my night of sleep would offer me so many opportunities to learn lessons! But there, in my night, were a series of impediments that kept drawing my attention to them, challenging me to fall asleep even though they were part of my scene. The fish tank was pumping water through the…

Last night was scary at my house. My son came to visit, to help me with some computer issues, and as he drove over the hill, an irate driver (for no apparent reason, according to my son), began to crowd his bumper and blow his horn. I was on the cell phone with him, and…

Ever since I started writing “Born to Learn,” it has focused my attention on our human “lessons.” They never stop. “How are you going to publish your book, Ilene?” people have been asking me. I don’t have a clue. I am driven to write this book; yet I don’t yet know how I’m going to…