Success, Elbow Grease And A Little Luck
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Title: SUCCESS, ELBOW GREASE AND A LITTLE LUCK Author: Dave
Turo-Shields, ACSW, LCSW Email:
mailto:editor@overcoming-depression.com copyright: by Dave
Turo-Shields, ACSW, LCSW Web Address:
http://www.Overcoming-Depression.com Word Count: 670 Category:
Success
SUCCESS, ELBOW GREASE AND A LITTLE LUCK
I like to think that as a professional psychotherapist & coach,
the space in which I work in my office is a smaller reflection
of our much larger culture here in the USA.
Let me explain. Our culture is constantly on the move towards
faster, more convenient ways of doing things. I'm caught up in
this moving current as much as the next person. For example,
when I began writing and putting up websites, the year was 1998.
I had a pentium 120 with 24 megabyte of ram and a 2400 bps
modem. As I write this article I am using a superfast AMD chip
computer with 1 gig of ram and a blazing fast cable modem
connection to the internet. I love it! The internet connection
alone has saved me hundreds of hours in my online work.
But notice the last word I used in the previous paragraph --
"work." I put in a minimum of 10 hours per week for my online
work alone. My wife edits my articles, so we'll see how accurate
I am when she reads my last statement. She often says I spend
much more time than that. ;-)
I enjoy both the new creations that make life easier, as well as
researching and writing how-to articles to help people move
towards success in their lives.
Last week, during one of my sessions, a client was complaining
that "nothing was working." She asked why there weren't any
guarantees and was extremely frustrated that her doctor had not
found the correct medication for her illness.
The psychotherapy and medical field is not an exact science. ..
yet. So, I most definitely empathized with how she was feeling.
On the other hand, I asked her how many specific depression
recovery tools she had learned about while she was in treatment.
She couldn't recall exactly, so we worked together and came up
with at least 12 different, proven skills she'd been taught to
fight depression.
Any guesses as to how many of these skills she is using in her
daily life? Sadly enough, ZERO. She tried one exercise I taught
her in our first week together and had never repeated it. I
thanked her for her honesty and gently explained that I was not
attempting to shame her or beat her up. Instead I talked with
her about the vital difference she could make in her own
depression recovery, if she would simply decide to make a
whole-hearted commmitment to doing everything in her power
towards that end. She re-committed herself. I'm excited to
officially "partner" with her in her recovery from depression.
Unfortunately, one trend I see emerging out of this larger
cultural movement to enhance life is a LACK OF ACTION. More
people today sit back and expect the "quick-fix" or "magic
bullet." And for those that sit and wait there are at least as
many who will prey on them. I receive no less than 500 emails a
week promising me the moon in a pill, or great riches for no
work and so on. You know, you receive the same ones I do.
Let me tell you a few of the benefits that come when you decide
to roll up your sleeves and dig into ol' fashioned hard work.
1. Self Mastery and Personal Competence
2. Empowerment or Personal Power
3. Heightened Level of Commitment
4. Deepening Values
5. Quality Use of Time
6. Greater Self-Respect
7. Increased Motivation
8. Personal Integrity or Honor
9. Pride In Personal Responsibility
10. Enhanced Self-Esteem
11. Stronger Sense of Purpose
12. Positive View of the Future
13. Personal Success
14. Personal Recovery from Life's Challenges
Do these qualities sound good to you? Are you willing to work
for them?
It's okay to pick the low-lying fruit and even courageous to
reach out for help when you need it. Stay open to life-
enhancing ways that can make life easier for you. The question
is, while you hope for a depression cure, a better business
opportunity, a lucky scratch-off ticket or an improved
partnership, are you also taking personal action to achieve that
success today?